Diurnal variation and reliability of the urine lactate concentration after maximal exercise

The postexercise urine lactate concentration is a novel valid exercise biomarker, which has exhibited satisfactory reliability in the morning hours under controlled water intake. The aim of the present study was to investigate the diurnal variation of the postexercise urine lactate concentration and its reliability in the afternoon hours. Thirty-two healthy children (11 boys and 21 girls) and 23 adults (13 men and 10 women) participated in the study. All participants performed two identical sessions of eight 25 m bouts of maximal freestyle swimming executed every 2 min with passive recovery in between. These sessions were performed in the morning and afternoon and were separated by 3–4 days. Adults performed an additional afternoon session that was also separated by 3–4 days. All swimmers drank 500 mL of water before and another 500 mL after each test. Capillary blood and urine samples were collected before and after each test for lactate determination. Urine creatinine, urine density and body water content were also measured. The intraclass correlation coefficient was used as a reliability index between the morning and afternoon tests, as well as between the afternoon test and retest. Swimming performance and body water content exhibited excellent reliability in both children and adults. The postexercise blood lactate concentration did not show diurnal variation, showing a good reliability between the morning and afternoon tests, as well as high reliability between the afternoon test and retest. The postexercise urine density and lactate concentration were affected by time of day. However, when lactate was normalized to creatinine, it exhibited excellent reliability in children and good-to-high reliability in adults. The postexercise urine lactate concentration showed high reliability between the afternoon test and retest, independent of creatinine normalization. The postexercise blood and urine lactate concentrations were significantly correlated in all cases, attesting to the validity of urine lactate as an index of anaerobic metabolism. We conclude that urine lactate, after normalization to creatinine, could be used in training practice either in the morning or in the afternoon. Further research is needed to assess the applicability of this novel exercise biomarker.     

The diurnal course of plant water potential,stomatal conductance and transpiration in a papyrus (Cyperus papyrus L.) canopy

Summary The diurnal course of water potential, stomatal conductance and transpiration was measured on mature umbels (the major evaporating surface) of papyrus (Cyperus papyrus L.) growing in a fringing swamp on Lake Naivasha, Kenya.Umbel water potential declined only slightly during the morning but fell rapidly after midday to a minimum value of-1.5 M Pa in early afternoon. The two main structures forming the umbels, the bracteoles and rays, showed similar patterns of change of stomatal conductance throughout the day. The values of conductance indicate major stomatal opening during the morning, partial midday closure and some recovery of opening during the afternoon.It appears that the increase in water vapour pressure deficit of the air is the major cause of the midday closure of the stomata and that plant water potential has little effect. The reason why transpiration is reduced at high vapour pressure deficits when water is freely available to the roots is not clear. However, it is speculated that the restricted water movement into the plant from the anaerobic root environment has the effect of reducing the uptake of toxic ferrous iron.The daily total of canopy transpiration is estimated to be 12.5 mm, twice the value previously reported for papyrus but similar to daily valus determined for other wetland communities.     

PEG模拟干旱胁迫对栓皮栎种子萌发及生长生理的影响

为了阐明栓皮栎种子萌发期对水分胁迫的耐受性,以当年采集的栓皮栎种子为材料,采用培养皿滤纸萌发的方法研究了不同浓度（0%、5%、10%、20%、30%）PEG-6000溶液对其种子萌发、生长、保护酶活性和有机渗透调节物质的影响,并对种子萌发率、胚根生长速率等与PEG浓度进行了回归分析。结果表明:（1）随着干旱胁迫程度的加剧,栓皮栎种子的发芽率、发芽指数、胚根长度、胚根生长速率和活力指数均呈先升高后下降趋势,说明低浓度（5%、10%）PEG胁迫可以促进栓皮栎种子萌发及生长,而高浓度（20%、30%）则具有抑制作用。（2）建立水分胁迫条件下种子萌发率、胚根生长速率等与PEG浓度的回归方程发现,栓皮栎种子在PEG胁迫下的萌发临界值和极限值分别为32.01%和36.99%,胚根生长速率的临界值和极限值分别为30.1%和33.35%。（3）随着PEG浓度的升高,栓皮栎种子中3种保护酶（SOD、POD、CAT）活性和3种有机渗透调节物质（可溶性蛋白、脯氨酸、可溶性糖）含量呈现不同的变化,但均有不同程度升高趋势。由此可见,栓皮栎种子可通过增加保护酶活性和体内渗透调节物质来适应水分胁迫环境,使自身萌发和生长受抑制程度降到最低。     

Stomatal conductance and transpiration of the two faces of Acacia phyllodes

Summary The daily course of stomatal conductance and transpiration was monitored on each separate face of vertical phyllodes of various acacias. The selected phyllodes had a north-south orientation so that one side faced eastwards and the other westwards. The principal measurements were made on Acacia longifolia and A. melanoxylon in Portugal in late summer and autumn, and additional measurements were made on A. ligulata and A. melanoxylon in Australia. In Portugal, irrespective of soil moisture status, conductance showed on early morning maximum with a subsequent gradual decline and sometimes a subsidiary peak in the late afternoon. Maximum conductances appeared to be a function of soil moisture status, whereas the decline in conductance in the late morning and afternoon was correlated with changes in phyllode-to-air vapour pressure deficits rather than changes in phyllode water status. The relationship of transpiration to phyllode water potential did not appear to be influenced by soil moisture status, although transpiration was less in drier soils and in the afternoons, this latter factor contributing to a marked hysteresis in the relationship. The opposing faces of the phyllodes exhibited a high degree of synchrony, showing parallel stomatal opening and closing, despite their large differences in irradiance. Stomatal conductance tended to be higher on the eastern faces in the morning and lower in the afternoon. In A. longifolia the daily average of relative conductance was much the same for both faces, but in A. melanoxylon that of the eastern face was higher and was retained even when the normal orientation of the phyllodes was reversed by turning them through 180°. Synchrony must be achieved by the stomata of both sides responding to common environmental or endogenous signals which are perceived by both surfaces with equal sensitivity.     

Patterns of airborne conidia of Stemphylium vesicarium, the causal agent of brown spot disease of pears, in relation to weather conditions

Seven-day volumetric spore samplers were installed in pear orchards of northern Italy, in the years between 1993 and 2002, and operated continuously during the development of brown spot epidemics (mid-April–mid-August), caused by Stemphylium vesicarium. Aerial concentration of conidia was recorded at 2 h intervals to study their diurnal and seasonal patterns and the influence of weather conditions. The diurnal periodicity of aerial conidia showed a peak around midday and low counts in the dark. The increase in spore concentration was significantly correlated with the reduction of relative humidity and wetness in early morning, and the increase of wind in late morning and afternoon. Conidia of S. vesicarium became easily airborne to form a regular component of the air-spora in pear orchards, while ascospores were caught only sporadically. Differences between years concerned total spore counts and numbers of peaks (defined as days with more than 30 conidia/m³ air per day). Periods with highest spore counts occurred in late-May to early-June (in 2 years), mid to end of June (5 years), or after mid-July (3 years). There was a significant correlation between spore peaks and days with favourable weather conditions, defined as days with air temperature between 15 and 25°C and high humidity, particularly a wet period longer than 10 h. Occurrence of one or more consecutive days with favourable weather conditions determined an increase in the airborne concentration of conidia, which usually lasted some days and then decreased.     

Diurnal and seasonal changes in the mate-locating behavior of the satyrine butterfly <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lethe diana</Emphasis>

The time schedule of mate-locating behavior in the male satyrine butterfly Lethe diana was studied. Males displayed territorial behavior only in the afternoon, but it was not known whether they attempted to locate mates in the morning. In order for males of most butterfly species to mate with a virgin female, it would be most effective to initiate mate-locating behavior in the morning, when synchronous eclosions occur. Males of L.diana flew patrols in the morning and displayed territorial behavior in the afternoon. The cost of territorial behavior is probably less than that of patrolling, as territorial flights are shorter than those when patrolling. The temporal switching of mate-locating behavior is theoretically favored, since the reproductive value of females decreases later in the day, when males perform the less costly mate-locating behavior. Thus, the diurnal switching of male mate-locating behavior may be an adaptive strategy in response to the rapid decline in the reproductive value of females over the course of a day.     

Leaf diaheliotropic movement can improve carbon gain and water use efficiency and not intensify photoinhibition in upland cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis> L.)

Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) can move leaves to track the sun throughout the day, so-called leaf diaheliotropic movement. This paper reports an experimental test of the hypothesis that leaf diaheliotropic movement in upland cotton can enhance carbon assimilation and not increase the risk of stress from high energy load. In this experiment, cotton leaves were divided into two groups: one was that leaves could track the sun freely; another was that leaves were retained to the horizontal position. The diaheliotropic leaves recorded higher incident irradiance than the restrained ones, especially in the morning and late afternoon. Compared with restrained leaves, diaheliotropic leaves were generally warmer throughout the day. As expected, diaheliotropic leaves had significantly higher diurnal time courses of net photosynthetic rate (P _N) than restrained leaves, except during 14:00–18:00 of the local time. Higher instantaneous water-use efficiency (WUE) was observed in diaheliotropic leaves in the early morning and late afternoon than in the restrained leaves. During the given day, diaheliotropic and restrained leaves had similar diurnal time courses of recovery of maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (F_v/F_m). Diaheliotropic leaves recorded lower or similar photochemical quenching coefficient (q_p) than restrained leaves did throughout the day. These results suggest that cotton leaf diaheliotropic movement can improve carbon gain and water use efficiency and not intensify photoinhibition.     

Alterations in Rubisco activity and in stomatal behavior induce a daily rhythm in photosynthesis of aerial leaves in the amphibious-plant Nuphar lutea

Nuphar lutea is an amphibious plant with submerged and aerial foliage, which raises the question how do both leaf types perform photosynthetically in two different environments. We found that the aerial leaves function like terrestrial sun-leaves in that their photosynthetic capability was high and saturated under high irradiance (ca. 1,500 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹). We show that stomatal opening and Rubisco activity in these leaves co-limited photosynthesis at saturating irradiance fluctuating in a daily rhythm. In the morning, sunlight stimulated stomatal opening, Rubisco synthesis, and the neutralization of a night-accumulated Rubisco inhibitor. Consequently, the light-saturated quantum efficiency and rate of photosynthesis increased 10-fold by midday. During the afternoon, gradual closure of the stomata and a decrease in Rubisco content reduced the light-saturated photosynthetic rate. However, at limited irradiance, stomatal behavior and Rubisco content had only a marginal effect on the photosynthetic rate, which did not change during the day. In contrast to the aerial leaves, the photosynthesis rate of the submerged leaves, adapted to a shaded environment, was saturated under lower irradiance. The light-saturated quantum efficiency of these leaves was much lower and did not change during the day. Due to their low photosynthetic affinity for CO₂ (35 μM) and inability to utilize other inorganic carbon species, their photosynthetic rate at air-equilibrated water was CO₂-limited. These results reveal differences in the photosynthetic performance of the two types of Nuphar leaves and unravel how photosynthetic daily rhythm in the aerial leaves is controlled.     

A coupled model of stomatal conductance, photosynthesis and transpiration

A model that couples stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, leaf energy balance and transport of water through the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum is presented. Stomatal conductance in the model depends on light, temperature and intercellular CO₂ concentration via photosynthesis and on leaf water potential, which in turn is a function of soil water potential, the rate of water flow through the soil and plant, and on xylem hydraulic resistance. Water transport from soil to roots is simulated through solution of Richards’ equation. The model captures the observed hysteresis in diurnal variations in stomatal conductance, assimilation rate and transpiration for plant canopies. Hysteresis arises because atmospheric demand for water from the leaves typically peaks in mid‐afternoon and because of uneven distribution of soil matric potentials with distance from the roots. Potentials at the root surfaces are lower than in the bulk soil, and once soil water supply starts to limit transpiration, root potentials are substantially less negative in the morning than in the afternoon. This leads to higher stomatal conductances, CO₂ assimilation and transpiration in the morning compared to later in the day. Stomatal conductance is sensitive to soil and plant hydraulic properties and to root length density only after approximately 10 d of soil drying, when supply of water by the soil to the roots becomes limiting. High atmospheric demand causes transpiration rates, LE, to decline at a slightly higher soil water content, θ_s, than at low atmospheric demand, but all curves of LE versus θ_s fall on the same line when soil water supply limits transpiration. Stomatal conductance cannot be modelled in isolation, but must be fully coupled with models of photosynthesis/respiration and the transport of water from soil, through roots, stems and leaves to the atmosphere.     

云锦杜鹃叶片光合作用日变化特征

自然条件下, 对云锦杜鹃光合作用日进程和光响应进行了观测, 结果表明:夏季晴天云锦杜鹃阳叶净光合速率日进程曲线为"双峰"型, 光合效率午间明显降低。胞间CO₂ 浓度的日进程基本与净光合速率相反, 中午胞间CO₂ 浓度增高表明净光合速率午间降低主要受非气孔限制因素的影响。暗呼吸速率日进程呈单峰曲线, 中午最高。阴叶净光合速率在一天的大部分时间里变化不大。一天分时段光响应试验表明, 阳叶饱和光强和表观量子效率上午较高, 下午有所降低, 而光补偿点下午有所上升。阴叶的这些光合参数在上午和下午没有明显的变化。这些研究结果表明, 强光下光抑制的发生是引起云锦杜鹃阳叶光合效率午间降低的重要原因。逐步多元回归和通径分析表明, 光合有效辐射和空气温度是直接影响净光合速率日变化的主要因子。     

Impacts of introduced common wasps (Vespula vulgaris) on experimentally placed mealworms in a New Zealand beech forest

An introduced social wasp Vespula vulgaris may compete with native birds for honeydew and invertebrates in New Zealand forests. Experimentally hidden mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) persisted longer at two sites following wasp poisoning that at two sites where wasps were not poisoned. Mealworms persisted longer in the morning than in the afternoon within all study sites. An unusually low mealworm removal rate during a morning trial before wasp poisoning heavily influences the results of this experiment but we have no ecological reason to ignore it. Wasps may therefore be having a heavy impact on invertebrate abundance on very short time scales (within a day following dawn emergence). They may also remove cached food items that would otherwise be retrieved by the South Island robin (Petroica australis australis) during cold or dark feeding conditions.     

模拟淹水对枫杨和栓皮栎气体交换、叶绿素荧光和水势的影响

研究了人工模拟淹水胁迫对两年生栓皮栎(Quercus variabilis)和枫杨(Pterocarya stenoptera)树苗的影响。经过70 d的淹水处理两种植物的存活率均为100%。淹水对两种植物生理生态过程的早期影响是快速降低了二者的最大净光合速率(P_max)、气孔导度(G_s)、最大光化学量子效率(F_v/F_m)。经过7 d的淹水处理后,受淹栓皮栎的最大净光合速率是对照的39%,枫杨是对照的42%;受淹栓皮栎的气孔导度是对照的38.8%,枫杨是对照的71.9%;水淹5 d后,枫杨和栓皮栎的最大光化学量子效率分别为0.694和0.757。但经过最初的下降后,枫杨的最大净光合速率、气孔导度和最大光化学量子效率逐渐恢复,而栓皮栎的则持续下降。到淹水70 d时栓皮栎的最大净光合速率下降了94.1%,最大光化学量子效率的平均值为0.537。在试验过程中,枫杨产生了有利于吸收氧气的不定根和肥大的皮孔,而栓皮栎没有产生不定根。随淹水时间的增加枫杨的叶绿素含量与对照没有显著差异;而栓皮栎的叶绿素含量在第33 d后大幅降低,Chla/Chlb的比值下降。淹水后第10 d和第70 d测定的清晨水势,受淹栓皮栎比对照高,而受淹枫杨比对照低,因此淹水导致的叶片水势的变化可能与树种相关。以上的试验结果表明受淹的栓皮栎的光合机构运转受到了严重影响,因此栓皮栎应属于对淹水较敏感的树种。从两种植物受淹水胁迫的形态和生理变化看,枫杨比栓皮栎更耐淹,更适合库塘消落区生境。     

Dynamic changes in hydraulic conductivity in petioles of two savanna tree species: factors and mechanisms contributing to the refilling of embolized vessels

Diel variation in specific hydraulic conductivity (k_s) was recorded in petioles of two savanna tree species, Schefflera macrocarpa and Caryocar brasiliense, from central Brazil. These two species have compound leaves with long petioles (10–30 cm). In both species, petiole k_s decreased sharply with increasing transpiration rates and declining leaf water potentials (ψ_L) during the morning. Petiole k_s increased during the afternoon while the plants were still transpiring and the water in the non‐embolized vessels was still under tension. Dye experiments confirmed that in both species diel variation in k_s was associated with embolism formation and repair. When transpiration was prevented in individual leaves, their petiole k_s and water potential remained close to their maximum values during the day. When minimum daily ψ_L on selected branches was experimentally lowered by 0.2–0.6 MPa, the rate of k_s recovery during the afternoon was slower in comparison with control branches. Several field manipulations were performed to identify potential mechanisms involved in the refilling of embolized petiole vessels. Removal of the cortex or longitudinal incisions in the cortex prevented afternoon recovery of k_s and refilling of embolized vessels. When distilled water was added to petiole surfaces that had been abraded to partially remove the cuticle, k_s increased sharply during the morning and early afternoon. Evidence of starch to sugar conversion in the starch sheath cells surrounding the vascular bundles of the petioles was observed during periods of rapid transpiration when the abundance of starch granules in the starch sheath cells surrounding the vascular bundles decreased. Consistent with this, petiole sugar content was highest in the early afternoon. The most parsimonious explanation of the field observations and the experimental results was that an increase in osmotically active solutes in cells outside the vascular bundles at around midday leads to water uptake by these cells. However, the concurrent increase in tissue volume is partially constrained by the cortex, resulting in a transient pressure imbalance that may drive radial water movement in the direction of the embolized vessels, thereby refilling them and restoring water flow. This study thus presents evidence that embolism formation and repair are two distinct phenomena controlled by different variables. The degree of embolism is a function of tension, and the rate of refilling a function of internal pressure imbalances.     

Diurnal time-activity budgets of redheads (Aythya americana) wintering in seagrass beds and coastal ponds in Louisiana and Texas

Diurnal time-activity budgets were determined for wintering redheads (Aythya americana) from estuarine seagrass beds in Louisiana (Chandeleur Sound) and Texas (Laguna Madre) and from ponds adjacent to the Laguna Madre. Activities differed (p<0.0001) by location, month, and diurnal time period. Resting and feeding were the most frequent activities of redheads at the two estuarine sites, whereas drinking was almost nonexistent. Birds on ponds in Texas engaged most frequently in resting and drinking, but feeding was very infrequent. Redheads from the Louisiana estuarine site rested less than birds in Texas at either the Laguna Madre or freshwater ponds. Redheads in Louisiana fed more than birds in Texas; this was partially because of weather differences (colder temperatures in Louisiana), but the location effect was still significant even when we adjusted the model for weather effects. Redheads in Louisiana showed increased resting and decreased feeding as winter progressed, but redheads in Texas did not exhibit a seasonal pattern in either resting or feeding. In Louisiana, birds maintained a high level of feeding activity during the early morning throughout the winter, whereas afternoon feeding tapered off in mid- to late-winter. Texas birds showed a shift from morning feeding in early winter to afternoon feeding in late winter. Males and females at both Chandeleur Sound and Laguna Madre showed differences in their activities, but because the absolute difference seldom exceeded 2%, biological significance is questionable. Diurnal time-activity budgets of redheads on the wintering grounds are influenced by water salinities and the use of dietary fresh water, as well as by weather conditions, tides, and perhaps vegetation differences between sites. The opportunity to osmoregulate via dietary freshwater, vs. via nasal salt glands, may have a significant effect on behavioral allocations.     

Diurnal variations in leaf water potential and stomatal conductance of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) cultivars as affected by irrigation levels

Two cultivars of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.)Millsp.) UPAS-120 and Parbhat were grown in the field under two irrigation treatments: no irrigation and irrigation when cumulative pan evaporation was equal to 50 per cent depletion of available water content in one metre root zone depth. Diurnal changes in leaf water potential and stomatal conductance were recorded on two daysi.e. October 1, 1979 and October 28, 1979 which corresponded to reproductive growth stage of the crop. Plant water potential decreased rapidly during the day up to about 15.00 and increased during evening hours. Higher leaf water potential was recorded in irrigated treatment on both dates. Adaxial and abaxial stomata differed in their response to water stress. Adaxial stomatal conductance started declining during early morning hours, however, abaxial conductance firstly increased up to 09.00 then decreased and increased again in the afternoon except in irrigated crop of cv. UPAS-120 on 28th October, where conductance never increased after 09.00. The reduced rate of stomatal conductance during day hours may be identified as one of the characteristics responsible for drought tolerance in pigeon pea.     

Evidence of daily spawning in natural populations of the New Zealand snapper Pagrus auratus (Sparidae)

Synopsis New Zealand snapper, Pagrus auratus, were captured by trawling from NE New Zealand over two successive spawning seasons, and examined for acute temporal changes in gonad condition. Fish with oocytes completing final oocyte maturation predominated during the morning, with a peak in ovulated fish occurring just after midday. Afternoon catches were dominated by fish in which the most advanced oocytes had yet to begin final maturation. This suggests that ovulation is synchronised to occur soon after midday, and the high proportion (up to 100% of the catch) of fish with particular gonad stages captured at any one time indicates that daily spawning involves most of the population. Diurnal changes in oocyte diameter support a daily spawning rhythm, with numbers of large hydrated oocytes peaking in the late morning, followed by the disappearance of these oocyte stages in the afternoon. Snapper captured alive by longlining were returned to the laboratory to examine the relationship between ovulation and probable time of spawning. Unovulated fish generally ovulated close to midday on the day of capture (morning captures), or the following day (afternoon captures). The viability of ovulated eggs (proportion undergoing division after fertilization) decreased markedly after oviduct residence times of over 8 hours. This suggests that natural spawning occurs before the late evening. The results of this study are consistent with anecdotal evidence suggesting that spawning occurs every day during the late afternoon or early evening, and is similar to the reproductive patterns displayed by a number of closely related sparids. Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand     

Sub-optimal morning temperature induces photoinhibition in dense outdoor cultures of the alga Monodus subterraneus (Eustigmatophyta)

Diel changes in photosynthetic oxygen evolution and several photochemical parameters measured by chlorophyll fluorescence quenching and induction were measured in outdoor dense cultures of the alga Monodus subterraneus (Eustigmatophyta). Cultures were maintained under two temperature regimes. In one, a rise in temperature was initiated in the morning by the increase in solar radiation up to the optimal temperature of 28 °C; in the other, a heating device was used to increase the rate of warming up in early morning. Although the two cultures were maintained at the same temperature and light intensity for most of the day, cultures exposed for only a short time to suboptimal morning temperature showed a larger decrease in almost all the photosynthetic parameters. By comparing the diel changes in maximal photochemistry efficiency of photosystem II, the electron transport rate and the photochemical and non‐photochemical chlorophyll fluorescence quenching of the cultures, we concluded that even a relatively short exposure to suboptimal morning temperatures induced photoinhibitory damage. The higher photochemical activity of the heated culture was also reflected in a significant increase in productivity, which was 60% higher in the morning heated cultures than in the non‐heated cultures.     

Circadian rhythm of water balance and aldosterone excretion in the whitebellied sunbird<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Nectarinia talatala</Emphasis>

Nectarivorous whitebellied sunbirds, Nectarinia talatala, demonstrate distinct circadian patterns in osmoregulatory parameters. We recorded intake of a 1 mol/l sucrose solution which enabled calculation of total water gain, and collected cloacal fluid for measurements of volume, osmolality and aldosterone concentration. These variables were assessed hourly over 12 h of photophase, and averaged over the 12-h scotophase period. Overnight, when sunbirds were in negative water balance, aldosterone concentrations and outputs were significantly higher than diurnal levels, reflecting a shut-down of cloacal fluid production. Early morning was marked by a high rate of osmotic excretion, disproportionate to water gain or cloacal fluid output, followed by steady intake and cloacal fluid output during the morning and early afternoon. Reduced water flux (decreased feeding and cloacal fluid output) during mid-afternoon was accompanied by a paradoxical decline in osmotic excretion, whilst a significant increase in the discrepancy between water intake and output was recorded as the birds effectively stored water before the scotophase. These patterns of intake and excretion may be informative in explaining drinking and foraging behaviour in the field.Abbreviations ALDO aldosterone - CF cloacal fluid - GFR glomerular filtration rate     

Effect of Time‐of‐Day‐Specific Strength Training on Serum Hormone Concentrations and Isometric Strength in Men

A time‐of‐day influence on the neuromuscular response to strength training has been previously reported. However, no scientific study has examined the influence of the time of day when strength training is performed on hormonal adaptations. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to examine the effects of time‐of‐day‐specific strength training on resting serum concentrations and diurnal patterns of testosterone (T) and cortisol (CORT) as well as maximum isometric strength of knee extensors. Thirty eight diurnally active healthy, previously untrained men (age 20–45 yrs) underwent a ten‐week preparatory strength training period when sessions were conducted between 17:00–19:00 h. Thereafter, these subjects were randomized into either a morning (n=20, training times 07:00–09:00 h) or afternoon (n=18, 7:00–19:00 h) training group for another ten‐week period of time‐of‐day‐specific training (TST). Isometric unilateral knee extension peak torque (MVC) was measured at 07:00, 12:00, 17:00, and 20:30 h over two consecutive days (Day 1 & Day 2) before and after TST. Blood samples were obtained before each clock‐time measurement to assess resting serum T and CORT concentrations. A matched control group (n=11) did not train but participated in the tests. Serum T and CORT concentrations significantly declined from 07:00 to 20:30 h on all test days (Time effect, p<.001). Serum CORT at 07:00 h was significantly higher on Day 1 than Day 2 in the control and afternoon group, both in Pre and Post conditions (Day×Time interaction, p<.01). In the morning group, a similar day‐to‐day difference was present in the Pre but not Post conditions (Time×Group interaction, p<.05). MVC significantly increased after TST in both the morning and afternoon groups (Pre to Post effect, p<.001). In both groups, a typical diurnal variation in MVC (Time effect, p<.001) was found, especially on Day 2 in the Pre condition, and this feature persisted from Pre to Post in the afternoon group. In the morning group, however, diurnal variation was reduced after TST on both Day 1 and Day 2 (Pre to Post×Day×Time×Group interaction, p<.05). In conclusion, 10 weeks of morning time‐of‐day‐specific strength training resulted in reduced morning resting CORT concentrations, presumably as a result of decreased masking effects of anticipatory psychological stress prior to the morning testing. The typical diurnal pattern of maximum isometric strength was blunted by the TST period in the morning but not the afternoon group. However, the TST period had no significant effect on the resting total T concentration and its diurnal pattern and on the absolute increase in maximum strength.     

Chitosan antitranspirant activity is due to abscisic acid-dependent stomatal closure

Chitosan (CHT) is a natural compound able to activate the plant own defence machinery against pathogen attacks and to reduce both transpiration and stomatal opening when applied as foliar spray. The data here reported show that CHT-induced antitranspirant activity in bean plants is mediated by ABA, whose level raised over threefold in treated leaves, 24 h after foliar spraying. This is thought to induce partial stomatal closure via a H₂O₂-mediated process, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and histo-cytochemistry, and, in turn, a decrease of stomatal conductance to water vapor (G_w) and transpiration rate (E), assessed by gas exchange measurements. The relatively high internal CO₂ concentration (C_i) values, suggest the occurrence of a slight decrease in carboxylation efficiency after CHT treatment, which however did not prevail over stomatal limitations. The intrinsic water use efficiency (WUE_i) of CHT treated plants was not statistically different from controls and the maximal photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m) of PSII was not affected. Moreover, CHT determined a stimulation of the xanthophyll cycle towards de-epoxidation state. On the whole, these results, besides confirming the effectiveness of CHT in reducing plant transpiration, prove that the mechanism underlying this activity differs from that showed by the commercial antitranspirant Vapor Gard^® (VP). In fact, the efficacy of the latter is based on the formation of a thin antitranspirant film over the leaf and not on the reduction of stomatal opening. Finally, suggestions for possible use of the two antitranspirants in different environmental conditions are discussed.