Convective heat transfer from a nude body under calm conditions: assessment of the effects of walking with a thermal manikin

The present experimental work is dedicated to the analysis of the effect of walking on the thermal insulation of the air layer (I _a ) and on the convective heat transfer coefficients (h _conv ) of the human body. Beyond the standing static posture, three step rates were considered: 20, 30 and 45 steps/min. This corresponds to walking speeds of approximately 0.23, 0.34 and 0.51 m/s, respectively. The experiments took place in a climate chamber with an articulated thermal manikin with 16 independent parts. The indoor environment was controlled through the inner wall temperatures since the objective of the tests was restricted to the influence of the walking movements under calm conditions. Five set points were selected: 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°C, and the operative temperature within the test chamber varied between 11.9 and 29.6°C. The highest and lowest I _a values obtained were equal to 0.87 and 0.71 clo, respectively, and the reduction in insulation due to walking ranged between 9.8 and 11.5%. The convective coefficients (h _conv ) for the whole body and for the different body segments were also determined for each step rate. In the case of the whole body, for the standing static reference posture, the mean value of h _conv was equal to 3.3 W/m²°C and a correlation [Nu = Nu(Gr)] for natural convection is also presented in good agreement with previous results. For the other postures, the values of h _conv were equal to 3.7, 3.9 and 4.2 W/m²°C, respectively for 20, 30 and 45 steps/min.     

Phosphate deposition capacity of athletes during hypokinesia, phosphate loading, and ambulation

Hypokinesia (diminished movement) induces significant phosphate (P) excretion; however, little is known about the P deposition ability of the body during hypokinesia (HK). Using P loads, the aim of this study was to establish the deposition ability of the body to retain P during prolonged HK. Studies were done during a 30-d period of pre-HK and a 364-d period of HK. Forty male trained athletes aged 24.7 ± 8.0 yr were chosen as subjects. They were equally divided into four groups: unloaded ambulatory control subjects (UACS), unloaded hypokinetic subjects (UHKS), loaded ambulatory control subjects (LACS), and loaded hypokinetic subjects (LHKS). All hypokinetic subjects were limited to an average walking distance of 0.7 km/d. Loading tests with 85.0 mg of calcium phosphate/kg body weight were performed on the LACS and LHKS. Fecal P loss, urinary calcium (Ca) and P loss, serum P, Ca, and the ionized calcium (Ca_I) levels increased significantly (p≤0.05) in the LHKS and UHKS groups when compared with the LACS and UACS groups, respectively. Serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ [1,25-(OH)₂ D₃] levels decreased significantly (p≤0.05) in the LHKS and UHKS groups when compared with the LACS and UACS groups, respectively. After the P load, significant (p≤0.05) differences were observed between LHKS and UHKS groups regarding serum, urinary, and fecal P changes. Thus, the deposition capacity of P decreased significantly (p≤0.05) more in the LHKS group than in the UHKS group. The deposition of P, fecal P, urinary P and Ca, serum Ca_I, P, Ca, 1,25-(OH)₂ D₃, and iPTH changed insignificantly (p>0.05) in control groups when compared with their baseline values. It was shown that after the P load, significant differences were observed between the loaded and unloaded hypokinetic subjects regarding serum, urinary, and fecal P values and P retention. The oral P load intensified P loss from the body. It was concluded that the higher the P intake increased the greater P loss and the lower P deposition and thus the less likely it is for the P load to benefit hypokinetic subjects.     

Urinary and serum electrolyte changes in athletes during periodic and continuous hypokinetic and ambulatory conditions

Hypokinesia (HK) (diminished movement) induces significant electrolyte changes, but little is known about the effect of periodic hypokinesia (PHK) on minerals. The aim of this study was to measure the effect of PHK and continuous hypokinesia (CHK) on urinary and serum electrolytes. Studies were done during a 30-d period of prehypokinesia (HK) and during 364 d of PHK and CHK periods. Thirty male athletes aged 24.6±7.7 yr were chosen as subjects. They were equally divided into three groups: unrestricted ambulatory control subjects (UACS), continuously hypokinetic subjects (CHKS), and periodically hypokinetic subjects (PHKS). The UACS group experienced no changes in the daily activities and regular training and they were maintained under an average running distance of 11.7 km/d. The CHKS group was limited to an average walking distance of 0.7 km/d; and the PHKS group was limited to an average walking distance of 0.7 and running distance of 11.7 km/d for 5 d and 2 d/wk, respectively, for a period of 364 d. Urinary and serum phosphate (P), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na) and potassium (K), serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), calcitonin (CT), plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone (PA) levels, food and water intakes, and physical characteristics were measured. Urinary P, Ca, Na, and K loss, serum Ca, P, Na, and K, and PRA and PA values increased significantly (p≤0.01), whereas serum iPTH and CT levels decreased significantly (p≤0.01) in the PHKS and CHKS groups when compared with the UACS group. However, significant (p≤0.01) differences were observed between PHKS and CHKS groups regarding urinary and serum electrolytes, serum and plasma hormones. Food and water intakes, body weight, body fat, and peak oxygen uptake decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.01) in the CHKS group when compared with PHKS and UACS groups. Food and fluid intakes, body fat, and body weight increased significantly (p≤0.01), whereas peak oxygen uptake remained significantly (p≤0.01) higher in the PHKS group when compared with the CHKS group. Serum and urinary minerals, serum hormones, food and fluid intakes, and physical characteristics did not change significantly (p>0.01) in the UACS group when compared with their baseline control values. It was shown that both PHK and CHK induce significant serum and urinary electrolyte changes. However, urinary and serum electrolyte changes were significantly (p≤0.01) greater during PHK than CHK. It was concluded that the greater the stability of muscular activity, the smaller the serum and urinary electrolyte changes during prolonged HK.     

Stooping,crouching, and standing – Characterizing balance control strategies across postures

BackgroundWhile stooping and crouching postures are critical for many activities of daily living, little is known about the balance control mechanisms employed during these postures. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to characterize the mechanisms driving net center of pressure (COP_Net) movement across three postures (standing, stooping, and crouching) and to investigate if control in each posture was influenced by time.MethodsTen young adults performed the three postures for 60 s each. Kinetic signals were collected via a force platform under each foot. To quantify mechanisms of control, correlations (Correl_LR) were calculated between the left and right COP trajectories in the anterior-posterior (AP) and medio-lateral (ML) directions. To examine the potential effects of time on balance control strategies, outcomes during the first 30 s were compared to the last 30 s.ResultsCorrel_LR values did not differ across postures (AP: p = 0.395; ML: p = 0.647). Further, there were no main effects of time on Correl_LR (AP: p = 0.976; ML: p = 0.105). A significant posture-time interaction was observed in the ML direction (p = 0.045) characterized by 35% decreases in Correl_LR over time for stooping (p = 0.022).ConclusionThe dominant controllers of sway (i.e., AP: ankle plantar/dorsi flexors; ML: hip load/unload mechanism) are similar across quiet stance stooping, and crouching. Changes in ML control strategies over time suggests that fatigue could affect prolonged stooping more so than crouching or standing.     

Seminal plasma trace metal levels in industrial workers

This study compares the seminal plasma trace metal levels of hospital workers with groups of industrial workers in a petroleum refinery, smelter, and chemical plant. The metals measured were the essential metals (copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, and manganese) and the toxic metals (lead, cadmium, and aluminum). The group mean±SE metal level for each group (50 subjects per group) was calculated, and the statistical significance of the group mean differences of the industrial groups with the hospital group (control) was determined by the Student’s t-test. The differences observed in the smelter group were increased copper and zinc (p≤0.001) and decreased nickel, cobalt, and manganese (p≤0.001,≤0.01). The refinery group differences were increased copper, zinc, and nickel (p≤0.001) but decreased cobalt and manganese (p≤0.001). The chemical group differences were increased zinc (p≤0.001) and decreased cobalt (p≤0.001). The seminal plasma levels of the toxic metals lead and aluminum were increased in each of the industrial groups (p≤0.001). Concurrent differences were (1) decreased accumulation of nickel, cobalt, and manganese in the smelter group, (2) decreased cobalt and managanese in the refinery group, and (3) only decreased cobalt in the chemical group.     

Diurnal variation in gait characteristics and transition speed

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of time-of-day on Preferred Transition Speed (PTS) and spatiotemporal organization of walking and running movements. Twelve active male subjects participated in the study (age: 27.2?±?4.9 years; height: 177.9?±?5.4?cm; body mass: 75.9?±?5.86?kg). First, PTS was determined at 08:00?h and 18:00?h. The mean of the two PTS recorded at the two times-of-day tested was used as a reference (PTS_m). Then, subjects were asked to walk and run on a treadmill at three imposed speeds (PTS_m, PTS_m?+?0.3?m.s^?1, and PTS_m???0.3?m.s^?1) at 08:00?h and 18:00?h. Mean stride length, temporal stride, spatial stride variability, and temporal stride variability were used for gait analysis. The PTS observed at 08:00?h (2.10?±?0.17?m.s^?1) tends to be lower (p?=?0.077) than that recorded at 18:00?h (2.14?±?0.19?m.s^?1). Stride lengths recorded while walking (p?=?0.038) and running (p?=?0.041) were shorter at 08:00?h than 18:00?h. No time-of-day effect was observed for stride frequency during walking and running trials. When walking, spatial stride variability (p?=?0.020) and temporal stride variability (p?=?0.028) were lower at 08:00?h than at 18:00?h. When running, no diurnal variation of spatial stride variability or temporal stride variability was detected.     

Combined effect of ambient temperature and solar radiation on maned sloths' behaviour and detectability

Changes in ambient temperature and solar radiation may affect sloths' metabolic rate and body temperature, with consequent changes in activities, postures and microhabitat selection. Although the separate effect of temperature and solar radiation on sloth's behaviour have been previously studied, the combined effect of these climatic factors on behavioural aspects of sloths has never been systematically evaluated in field conditions. Here we evaluated the influence of hourly ambient temperature variation on maned sloth (Bradypus torquatus) activities, postures and tree crown positions, under sunny and cloudy conditions; and tested if any of the animal posture and position increase their exposure to human detection. We performed 350 h of visual observation on eight maned sloths, equipped with radio-backpacks, in northern Bahia, Brazil, recording their activities, and their resting postures and positions on tree crowns. We also recorded the time taken to visualize the sloths on 58 days to analyse if sloths' detection is affected by posture and position. Higher ambient temperature, within a range of 21–33°C, increased the sloths' activity levels in cloudy conditions but reduced their activity in sunny conditions. Increasing ambient temperature also reduced the frequency of huddled posture and increased the frequency of extended posture and permanence in the inner tree crown. Lastly, the postures and positions did not influence sloths' detectability. Thus, the direction of the temperature–activity relationship depends on climatic conditions (sunny/cloudy), and individuals rely on resting postures and positions to thermoregulate. The warmer and drier future climate, expected to occur in the northern Atlantic Forest, may impose change in the diurnal activity levels and postural pattern for this threatened species, leading maned sloths to reduce its activity on sunny and warmer days and adopting an extended posture.     

Blood cell lead, calcium, and magnesium levels associated with pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia

This study compares the red blood cell (Rbc) levels of lead (Pb), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in relation to blood pressure in 39 pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy. The study population included 20 women with normal pregnancies, 15 with mild hypertension, and 4 with severe hypertension and preeclampsia. The mean±SD for each group was calculated and the difference between the means of the normotensive and the other groups were compared by analysis of variance. Significant differences from normal to the preeclamptic pregnancies were in (1) elevated Rbc Pb (p≤0.001), (2) lower Rbc Ca (p≤0.001), and (3) lower Rbc Mg/Pb ratio (p≤0.0001). Pearson’s rank correlation between blood pressure showed a direct relation to the Rbc Pb level (p≤0.01) and an inverse relation to the Rbc Ca and Mg/Pb ratio (p≤0.004,≤0.007). Apparently, prenatal blood pressure is directly proportional to Rbc Pb content and related or modified by Rbc Ca and Mg.     

An ethogram forLemur fulvus

As a result of over 2000 hours of observation of two captiveLemur fulvus groups, their social behavior can now be provisionally described and categorized. Characteristic postures forL. fulvus include the normal standing or walking posture, often accompanied by low-pitched contact grunting, and the tightly curled resting posture. Disturbances in the vicinity of the group may lead to gradational changes in individual postures, culminating in the mob display. Greeting behaviors include passing without interaction, the sniff greeting, tactile greetings, and anogenital marking of one lemur by another. Allogrooming, mutual grooming, and reciprocal grooming may follow initial contact.L. fulvus individuals scent-mark spaces and objects, doing so at an increased rate during the mating season. Throughout most of the year little behavior occurs which can accurately be labelled ‘aggressive’. True agonistic behavior has only been observed during certain phases of the annual cycle: birth season, mating season, and the time of sexual maturation of juvenile animals. Sexual behavior is also rarely observed. Maternal behavior is interesting not only in terms of mother-infant interactions but also with regard to changes in mother-other interactions over time. Finally, play behavior can be distinguished from other kinds of behavior with similar behavioral components by looking at itsGestalt. Most play can be classified as either primarily locomotor/manipulative or primarily social.     

Convective and radiative heat transfer coefficients for individual human body segments

 Human thermal physiological and comfort models will soon be able to simulate both transient and spatial inhomogeneities in the thermal environment. With this increasing detail comes the need for anatomically specific convective and radiative heat transfer coefficients for the human body. The present study used an articulated thermal manikin with 16 body segments (head, chest, back, upper arms, forearms, hands, pelvis, upper legs, lower legs, feet) to generate radiative heat transfer coefficients as well as natural- and forced-mode convective coefficients. The tests were conducted across a range of wind speeds from still air to 5.0 m/s, representing atmospheric conditions typical of both indoors and outdoors. Both standing and seated postures were investigated, as were eight different wind azimuth angles. The radiative heat transfer coefficient measured for the whole-body was 4.5 W/m² per K for both the seated and standing cases, closely matching the generally accepted whole-body value of 4.7 W/m² per K. Similarly, the whole-body natural convection coefficient for the manikin fell within the mid-range of previously published values at 3.4 and 3.3 W/m² per K when standing and seated respectively. In the forced convective regime, heat transfer coefficients were higher for hands, feet and peripheral limbs compared to the central torso region. Wind direction had little effect on convective heat transfers from individual body segments. A general-purpose forced convection equation suitable for application to both seated and standing postures indoors was h _c=10.3v ^0.6 for the whole-body. Similar equations were generated for individual body segments in both seated and standing postures. Received: 21 May 1996/Accepted: 27 November 1996     

Growth and elemental content of several sagebrush-steppe species in unburned and post-wildfire soil and plant effects on soil attributes

Fire is the principal means of stand renewal in big sagebrush-steppe communities of western North America. Plant growth following fire may be influenced by heat-induced changes in the nutrient status of the soil. Moreover, post-wildfire pioneer plant species may alter soil properties, and thereby, impact subsequent plant recruitment. Our study compared the growth and elemental content of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), squirreltail (Elymus elymoides), cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), and Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides), grown under greenhouse conditions in post-wildfire and similar unburned soil. We also examined soil attributes following plant growth. Cheatgrass and squirreltail, grown in post-wildfire soil, had significantly (p≤0.05) greater aboveground mass than plants grown in unburned soil. As compared with unburned soil, post-wildfire soil engendered the following significant (p≤0.05) differences in leaf elemental content: 1) big sagebrush had higher levels of P and lower levels of Mn; 2) squirreltail accumulated more P and N; and 3) all grass species had higher SiO₂ content. Following harvest of plants, post-wildfire soil generally contained significantly (p≤0.05) more KCl-extractable ortho-P, NH _inf4 ⁺ , and SO ₄ ⁻ , than unburned soil. Plant growth in both burned and unburned soils fostered a significant (p≤0.05) increase in the bicarbonate-extractable pool of P as compared with unplanted controls. Soil Kjeldahl-N was significantly (p≤0.05) greater after plant growth in burned treatments as compared with the control. This study demonstrates that post-wildfire soil can have a stimulatory effect on plant growth for some species. Squirreltail deserves consideration as a post-wildfire revegetation species. Furthermore, pioneer plant growth following wildfires can attenuate soil properties and therefore influence plant succession.     

Moving beyond quiet stance: Applicability of the inverted pendulum model to stooping and crouching postures

Background

Currently, it is unknown whether the inverted pendulum model is applicable to stooping or crouching postures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the degree of applicability of the inverted pendulum model to these postures, via examination of the relationship between the centre of mass (COM) acceleration and centre of pressure (COP)–COM difference.

Methods

Ten young adults held static standing, stooping and crouching postures, each for 20 s. For both the anterior–posterior (AP) and medio-lateral (ML) directions, the time-varying COM acceleration and the COP–COM were computed, and the relationship between these two variables was determined using Pearson?s correlation coefficients. Additionally, in both directions, the average absolute COM acceleration, average absolute COP–COM signal, and the inertial component (i.e., −I/Wh) were compared across postures.

Results

Pearson correlation coefficients revealed a significant negative relationship between the COM acceleration and COP–COM signal for all comparisons, regardless of the direction (p<0.001). While no effect of posture was observed in the AP direction (p=0.463), in the ML direction, the correlation coefficients for stooping were different (i.e., stronger) than standing (p=0.008). Regardless of direction, the average absolute COM acceleration for both the stooping and crouching postures was greater than standing (p<0.002).

Conclusion

The high correlations indicate that the inverted pendulum model is applicable to stooping and crouching postures. Due to their importance in completing activities of daily living, there is merit in determining what type of motor strategies are used to control such postures and whether these strategies change with age.     

Environmental impacts on offspring survival during the lambing period in central Patagonia

Weather conditions are the main factors affecting the survival rate of newborn lambs. In the windy climate of Patagonia, the influence of weather conditions is exacerbated as the wind speed increases noticeably in spring. If the wind increases faster than the temperature rises, wind chill conditions worsen temporarily. This departure from the predictable improvement in bioclimatic conditions as the season moves towards summer may coincide with lambing, if this is not adequately regulated. This paper explores bioclimatic conditions during the 2-month period in which lambing may take place (i.e. mid-September to mid-November), and identifies the unfavourable period that occurs in the second fortnight of October. Starting from the Mount and Brown (Agric Meteorol 27:241–255, 1982) model to assess thermal stress in sheep by means of common meteorological records, a simpler model was developed employing in long-term records. For 2-week averages of temperature (T _f), wind speed (V _f) and total precipitation (P _f), the average heat loss in sheep (HL_f) was 40.40–2.07T _f+5.64V _f+0.04P _f. (r2=0.95). A 24-year series of T _f, V _f and P _f data was employed in the calculation of HL_f, and results showed this parameter was significantly higher in the second fortnight in October. HL_f values were classified into four groups (from ”very good” to ”very bad” conditions); once again, significant differences appeared in the second fortnight in October. Finally, HL_f during the lambing period was correlated to the percentage of lambs surviving 2 months later. Significant differences between the survival of lambs born under ”very bad” and ”very good” conditions were found, but intermediate HL_f conditions did not show a clear pattern. The survival rate was best correlated to HL_f in the fortnight preceding lambing (P<0.05). This suggests that bioclimatic conditions during late pregnancy are at least as important as conditions during lambing in determining the survival lambs. Received: 14 December 1998 / Revised: 26 July 1999 / Accepted: 26 July 1999     

Distal Forelimb Kinematics in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erythrocebus patas</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Papio anubis</Emphasis> During Walking and Galloping

When using symmetrical gaits, terrestrial digitigrade monkeys adopt less digitigrade, i.e., more palmigrade-like, hand postures as they move with faster speeds. Accordingly, it appears that, in contrast to other mammals, digitigrady is unrelated to cursoriality in primates. However, researchers have not documented the effects of speed on distal forelimb kinematics in faster asymmetrical gaits, i.e., galloping, when ground reaction forces are typically increased owing to the decreased number of contact points during a stride, combined with higher speed. Thus, it remains possible that primates use digitigrade hand postures during these higher-speed asymmetrical gaits. We investigated 3D angles in the wrist joint and metacarpophalangeal joint of 2 habitually digitigrade terrestrial monkeys, Erythrocebus patas and Papio anubis, across a large range of walking and galloping speeds on a motorized treadmill. Nonparametric analyses reveal that angles, and therefore hand postures, are not different at the subject’s walk-gallop transition. Regression analyses show that when walking, digitigrade postures are adopted at slow speeds and more palmigrade-like postures are adopted at fast speeds. Contrary to expectations, there is little change in hand postures across galloping speeds; both subjects maintained palmigrade-like hand postures with substantial joint yield and reextension during support. These results indicate that the hands are always less digitigrade at faster speeds because the joints of the distal forelimb cannot resist the higher ground reaction forces that accompany these higher speed gaits.     

Identification and Validation of Molecular Markers Associated with Pachymetra Root Rot and Brown Rust Resistance in Sugarcane Using Map- and Association-based Approaches

Marker-assisted selection for traits that are difficult to screen for, such as resistance to many sugarcane diseases, has the potential to facilitate the development of improved cultivars in sugarcane. Pachymetra root rot (PRR) and brown rust resistance ratings were obtained over two years for 192 I1 progeny (progeny produced by two heterozygous, non-inbred parental lines) of a sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid) cross between two elite sugarcane clones, Q117 and 74C42. Approximately 1000 single-dose markers, including microsatellite (SSR), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers, were scored across the population and maps containing approximately 400 markers were constructed for each parent. At p ≤ 0.01, two genomic regions, one from the female Q117 map and a different region from the 74C42 male map, plus an unlinked bi-parental simplex marker (single-dose marker present in both parents) were identified as associated with PRR over both years of data collection. These regions explained between 6 and 16% of the phenotypic variation. An additional region was identified in the female map as associated with PRR at p ≤ 0.01 in one year and p ≤ 0.05 in the second year. This region explained between 4 and 8% of the phenotypic variation. For brown rust, two genomic regions, one from the female map and one from the male map, plus an unlinked marker from both maps, were identified as associated with brown rust resistance at p ≤ 0.01 over two years of phenotypic data. Each region explained between 7 and 18% of the phenotypic variation. Several additional regions were identified in both maps as associated with brown rust at p ≤ 0.01 in one year and p ≤ 0.05 in the second year. These regions also explained between 5 and 11% of the phenotypic variation. To validate these markers and determine whether they would be useful in alternative germplasm, markers from each genomic region associated with PRR or brown rust were screened across a set of 154 elite sugarcane clones; PRR and brown rust ratings were available for 131 and 72 of the clones, respectively. For PRR, three of the 6 markers tested remained significantly associated (p ≤ 0.01) with resistance ratings in the elite clone set. For brown rust, only one of the seven markers tested remained significantly associated (p ≤ 0.01) with resistance in the elite clone set, with one other marker associated at p ≤ 0.05. These results suggest that these markers could be broadly effective in selecting for PRR and/or brown rust resistance in sugarcane breeding programs.     

Measurements in potassium-supplemented athletes during and after hypokinetic and ambulatory conditions

Hypokinesia (diminished movement) induces significant potassium (K) changes; however, little is known about K deposition and deficiency during hypokinesia (HK). Using K supplements during and after HK, the aim was to establish body K deposition and K deficiency during HK. Studies were done during the pre-HK period of 30 d, HK period of 364 d, and post-HK period of 30 d. Forty male trained athletes aged 24.9 ± 8.0 y were chosen as subjects. They were equally divided into four groups: unsupplemented active control subjects (UACS), unsupplemented hypokinetic subjects (UHKS), supplemented active control subjects (SACS), and supplemented hypokinetic subjects (SHKS). Hypokinetic subjects were limited to an average walking distance of 0.7 km/d. Control subjects ran an average distance of 11.6 km/d. The SHKS and SACS groups took 95.0 mg elemental K/kg body weight daily. Fecal K excretion, urinary sodium (Na) and K excretion, plasma K and Na levels, plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone (PA), food and fluid intake, and physical characteristics were measured. During HK, fecal K loss, urinary K and Na loss, and plasma K, Na, PRA, and PA levels increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05), whereas during the initial days of post-HK, the levels of the measured parameters decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) in the SHKS and UHKS groups as compared with the SACS and UACS groups, respectively. During HK, body weight, body fat, peak oxygen uptake, food and fluid intake decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.05), whereas during the initial days of post-HK period remained significantly (p ≤ 0.05) depressed and fluid intake increased in SHKS and UHKS groups when compared with the SACS and UACS groups, respectively. However, during HK and post-HK plasma, urinary, and fecal K changed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) more in the SHKS group than in the UHKS group. The deposition of K was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower and K deficiency much higher in the SHKS group than in the UHKS group. Fecal K loss, urinary K and Na loss, plasma K, Na, PRA, and PA levels, body weight, body fat, peak oxygen uptake, and food and fluid intake did not change significantly in the SACS and UACS when compared with their baseline control values. It was shown that plasma K concentration and urinary and fecal K excretion increased during HK and decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) during post-HK. post-HK. Oral K supplements did not influence plasma or fecal and urinary K either during HK or post-HK. It was concluded that the low plasma K level and fecal and urinary K loss during post-HK may indicate the presence of K deficiency, and increased K in plasma, urine, and feces during HK and in the presence of K deficiency may suggest the body’s inability to retain K during HK.     

The Laetoli footprints and early hominin locomotor kinematics

A critical question in human evolution is whether the earliest bipeds walked with a bent-hip, bent-knee gait or on more extended hindlimbs. The differences between these gaits are not trivial, because the adoption of either has important implications for the evolution of bipedalism. In this study, we re-examined the Laetoli footprints to determine whether they can provide information on the locomotor posture of early hominins. Previous researchers have suggested that the stride lengths of Laetoli hominins fall within the range of modern human stride lengths and therefore, Laetoli hominins walked with modern-human-like kinematics. Using a dynamic-similarity analysis, we compared Laetoli hominin stride lengths with those of both modern humans and chimpanzees. Our results indicate that Laetoli hominins could have used either a bent-hip, bent-knee gait, similar to a chimpanzee, or an extended-hindlimb gait, similar to a human. In fact, our data suggest that the Laetoli hominins could have walked near their preferred speeds using either limb posture. This result contrasts with most previous studies, which suggest relatively slow walking speeds for these early bipeds. Despite the many attempts to discern limb-joint kinematics from Laetoli stride lengths, our study concludes that stride lengths alone do not resolve the debate over early hominin locomotor postures.     

Thermal clamping of temperature-regulating flowers reveals the precision and limits of the biochemical regulatory mechanism

The flowers of several families of seed plants warm themselves when they bloom. In some species, thermogenesis is regulated, increasing the rate of respiration at lower ambient temperature (T _a) to maintain a somewhat stable floral temperature (T _f). The precision of this regulation is usually measured by plotting T _f over T _a. However, such measurements are influenced by environmental conditions, including wind speed, humidity, radiation, etc. This study eliminates environmental effects by experimentally ‘clamping’ T _f at constant, selected levels and then measuring stabilized respiration rate. Regulating flowers show decreasing respiration with rising T _f (Q ₁₀ < 1). Q ₁₀ therefore becomes a measure of the biochemical ‘precision’ of temperature regulation: lower Q ₁₀ values indicate greater sensitivity of respiration to T _f and a narrower range of regulated temperatures. At the lower end of the regulated range, respiration is maximal, and further decreases in floral temperature cause heat production to diminish. Below a certain tissue temperature (‘switching temperature’), heat loss always exceeds heat production, so thermoregulation becomes impossible. This study compared three species of thermoregulatory flowers with distinct values of precision and switching temperature. Precision was highest in Nelumbo nucifera (Q ₁₀ = 0.16) moderate in Symplocarpus renifolius (Q ₁₀ = 0.48) and low in Dracunculus vulgaris (Q ₁₀ = 0.74). Switching temperatures were approximately 30, 15 and 20°C, respectively. There were no relationships between precision, switching temperature or maximum respiration rate. High precision reveals a powerful inhibitory mechanism that overwhelms the tendency of temperature to increase respiration. Variability in the shape and position of the respiration–temperature curves must be accounted for in any explanation of the control of respiration in thermoregulatory flowers.     

Stable carbon isotope characteristics of desert plants in the Junggar Basin, China

Desert plants have unique strategies for survival and growth to cope with the limited water availability in arid regions. The stable carbon isotope (δ ¹³C) provides an integrated measurement of internal plant physiological and external environmental properties affecting photosynthetic gas exchange and water use efficiency. The δ ¹³C values of 84 species in the Junggar Basin were categorized into two groups (ranged from −30.1 to −23.3‰ for C₃ and −14.9 to −9.9‰ for C₄ species, respectively). No life form differences in δ ¹³C values were detected in C₃ (p = 0.78) and C₄ plants (p = 0.63). Small differences among life forms were observed in δ ¹³C values in C₄ species with shrubs slightly depleted (−13.3‰) relative to perennials (−13.1‰) and annuals (−12.5‰). These differences suggested that δ ¹³C value could not represent a plant functional group classification based on life forms in C₄ plants in extremely arid regions. Ephemerals are all using C₃ photosynthetic pathway and no significant differences (p = 0.92) in δ ¹³C values were observed between annuals (−26.5‰) and perennials (−26.4‰). The δ ¹³C values of Tulipa iliensis (an important ephemeral species distributed widely in the Junggar Basin) among nine natural populations were positively correlated with leaf (r ² = 0.46, p = 0.046) and soil (r ² = 0.67, p = 0.007) total nitrogen content, and negatively correlated with leaf (r ² = 0.48, p = 0.039) and soil (r ² = 0.79, p = 0.001) water content. This indicated that the variation in δ ¹³C values of T. iliensis was probably caused by both water availability associated stomatal openness and nitrogen availability associated photosynthetic capacity. T. iliensis is very sensitive to water and nitrogen availability in soil.     

Postural dynamics of walking in humans

The dynamics of postural control in human biped locomotion were studied using(1) a model, and(2) experimentally applied impulsive force disturbances. The model was planar, and contained five rigid segments, articulating at frictionless pin joints. The model was used to identify joint torque combinations which would successfully correct for an impulsive force disturbance applied at different points in the walking cycle. The simulation results suggested that(1) early responses (within 80ms) can be effective in compensating for impulsive disturbances,(2) the same strategies which successfully counteract similar disturbances during quiet standing are also effective in certain phases of the walking cycle,(3) modifications in the response strategies are needed to accomodate differences in the dynamics over the stride cycle, and(4) the swing leg is ineffective in compensating for disturbances in the short term. These model predictions were tested experimentally. Subject responses to an impulsive force disturbance applied during walking were studied. The electromyographic results generally support the model predictions.