Changes In Balance Research Articles

Exploring rural futures through spatial‐temporal migration balance changes in a North‐Caucasian rural basin

AbstractA better understanding of spatial‐temporal demographic changes in rural regions can contribute to envision potential rural futures and improve regional planning. This research aimed to analyse the migration balance and its spatial‐temporal changes in a rural basin in the Russian Federation's North Caucasus District. The basin was divided into water functional zones to examine the environmental conditions and relate them to possible future anthropogenic pressures and threats to population well‐being. Two migration balance indicators (on total population and working‐age sector) were calculated in settlements to classify them as attractors, expellers or stable population entities in two census data (2014 and 2020). The spatial‐temporal changes were assessed by testing two hypotheses: one related to population concentration and rural depopulation trends; the other focused on working‐age migration and workforce availability. Moreover, a foresight tool employed migration balance indicators in 2020 to explore population trends and possible trajectories. Findings revealed that in this rural basin, a small number of settlements served as attractors in the upper functional zone where two urban centres are found, potentially intensifying soil erosion and pollution. In the middle and lower functional zones, most rural and small urban settlements showed unfavored migration balances, leading to population and workforce decline. Negative environmental factors like declining water quality and increased wind erosion could worsen this trend. The migration challenges by functional zones highlight the growing regional disparities. The combination of spatial demography with the basin approach provided improved information to foster collaboration in a shared basin and effectively address undesirable rural outcomes at regional level.

The long-term sea-level commitment from Antarctica

Abstract. The evolution of the Antarctic Ice Sheet is of vital importance given the coastal and societal implications of ice loss, with a potential to raise sea level by up to 58 m if it melts entirely. However, future ice-sheet trajectories remain highly uncertain. One of the main sources of uncertainty is related to nonlinear processes and feedbacks between the ice sheet and the Earth System on different timescales. Due to these feedbacks and ice-sheet inertia, ice loss may already be triggered in the next decades or centuries and will then unfold thereafter on timescales on the order of multiple centuries to millennia. This committed Antarctic sea-level contribution is not reflected in typical sea-level projections based on mass balance changes of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, which often cover decadal-to-centennial timescales. Here, using two ice-sheet models, we systematically assess the long-term multi-millennial sea-level commitment from Antarctica in response to warming projected over the next centuries under low- and high-emission pathways. This allows us to bring together the time horizon of stakeholder planning and the much longer response times of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Our results show that warming levels representative of the lower-emission pathway, SSP1-2.6, may already result in an Antarctic mass loss of up to 6 m of sea-level equivalent on multi-millennial timescales. This committed mass loss is due to a strong grounding-line retreat in the West Antarctic Amundsen Sea embayment as well as potential drainage from the Ross Ice Shelf catchment and onset of ice loss from Wilkes subglacial basin in East Antarctica. Beyond the warming levels reached by the end of this century under the higher-emission trajectory, SSP5-8.5, a collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is triggered in the entire ensemble of simulations from both ice-sheet models. Under enhanced warming, next to ice loss from the marine subglacial basins, we also find a substantial decline in ice volume grounded above sea level in East Antarctica. Over the next millennia, this gives rise to a sea-level increase of up to 40 m in our simulations, stressing the importance of including the committed Antarctic sea-level contribution in future projections.

ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE NORMS OF MAN-MADE LOADS ON IRRIGATED LANDS DURING WASTEWATER DISPOSAL

Nature management in a broad sense is considered as a combination of various forms of exploitation of the natural resource potential of natural and natural-man-made systems and measures to preserve it. Its most important component is the preservation, reproduction and rational change of the ecological balance of natural systems. It is from these positions that it seems necessary to determine environmentally acceptable norms of man-made loads on irrigated lands during the disposal of wastewater, widely used in the practice of water supply and sanitation. The use of wastewater from industrial and municipal facilities for irrigation of land is of fundamental importance from both ecological and economic positions. From an ecological point of view, the use of wastewater for irrigation of agricultural crops, in the presence and creation of waste-free and safe technologies for their disposal in irrigation fields, can serve as the basis for rational nature management, since at the same time the ecological sustainability of landscapes is ensured, which in turn makes possible the long-term exploitation of natural resources without their pollution and degradation. From an economic point of view, by creating agricultural landscapes in unproductive lands, using wastewater from industrial and municipal facilities, it is possible to ensure the production of a certain amount of agricultural products, provided that the damage caused to the natural system (S) will be less than the profit (S). Under these conditions, the object of wastewater disposal is the soil, which requires the need to determine a number of environmentally effective ways to optimize the soil-forming process, which would create, in an agroecological and economic sense, a perfect technology for their disposal, taking into account the laws of nature.

Nitrogen reduction enhances crop productivity, decreases soil nitrogen loss and optimize its balance in wheat-maize cropping area of the Loess Plateau, China

In winter wheat-summer maize double cropping, fertilization changes the nitrogen (N) balance in the soil N pool, grain N uptake, N loss, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), ultimately impacting crop productivity and environmental health. For agricultural systems to maintain yields at lower environmental costs, N budgets must be balanced. Still, there is a deficiency in the reporting of N budgets of farming systems that incorporate all N flows. We evaluated the effects of various N fertilizer application rates on soil N balance and crop productivity in the 2017–2021 winter wheat-summer maize growing seasons. These rates included non-N fertilization (N0), 75 kg·N·ha−1 (N75), 150 kg·N·ha−1 (N150), 225 kg·N·ha−1 (N225), and conventional N fertilizer application rate, 300 kg·N·ha−1 (N300). Our analysis was based on a long-term field fertilization experiment and in-situ observation (established in 2010). The results show that fertilization significantly increased crop yields (wheat: 29.2 %–97.6 %; maize:25.4 %–98.1 %; annal: 27.0 %–96.7 %), among which N225 showed the highest increase value, compared with N0. Moreover, the N225 maximized grain N uptake by 201.0 %, reducing N losses and increasing N sequestration compared to the conventional N application rate of N300. N balance changes from negative to positive as the N application rate increases (wheat: −63.78–85.24 kg·ha−1; maize: −55.77–82.25 kg·ha−1; annal: −119.58–167.46 kg·ha−1·yr−1). Combining years of N inputs and outputs, the N225 is more balanced. Therefore, our study shows that an appropriate reduction of N fertilizer (N225) can help maintain agricultural productivity and promote N sequestration in farmland by reducing environmental N loss. Maintaining the virtuous cycle of N in the farmland ecosystem is beneficial and essential for the efficient utilization, high yield, and sustainable development of farmland resources.

BE FAST Versus FAST: A Randomized Pilot Trial Comparing Retention of Stroke Symptoms Between 2 Mnemonics.

Balance, Eye, Face, Arm, Speech, Time (BE FAST) was proposed to increase the public's ability to recognize more signs of stroke by adding balance (B) and eyesight changes (E) to the stroke acronym FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, Time). Previous prospective studies suggested these additions did not result in increased stroke detection. A randomized, assessor blinded prospective pilot study assessed retention of BE FAST and FAST. The 174 participants were randomized to 1 of 2 education arms, educated similarly visually and auditorily, and retention was tested at 3 time points. Mnemonic recall was similar at 30 days (79.5% versus 69.8%, P=0.104). Significantly lower retention was seen in the BE FAST group's ability to recall all symptoms at 3 to 5 minutes (75% versus 30.2%, P<0.001), 60 minutes (70.5% versus 41.9%, P<0.001), and 30 days (51.1% versus 24.4%, P<0.001). Significantly higher retention was observed in the FAST group for partial recall at 3 to 5 minutes (94.3% versus 84.9%, P=0.041), 60 minutes (86.4% versus 77.9%, P=0.045), and 30 days (76.1% versus 59.3%, P=0.012). For BE FAST, retention of more common symptoms at 30 days was lower for face (78.4% versus 60.5%, P=0.010), speech (65.9% versus 47.7%, P=0.015), and arm (63.6% versus 52.3%, P=0.131). Significantly higher retention and ability to recall stroke symptoms, fully or partially, was found with FAST. Adding B and E to FAST resulted in lower retention of more common symptoms. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT06152016.

The role of intestinal microbiota in physiologic and body compositional changes that accompany CLA-mediated weight loss in obese mice

ObjectiveObesity continues to be a major problem, despite known treatment strategies such as lifestyle modifications, pharmaceuticals, and surgical options, necessitating the development of novel weight loss approaches. The naturally occurring fatty acid, 10,12 conjugated linoleic acid (10,12 CLA), promotes weight loss by increasing fat oxidation and browning of white adipose tissue, leading to increased energy expenditure in obese mice. Coincident with weight loss, 10,12 CLA also alters the murine gut microbiota by enriching for microbes that produce short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), with concurrent elevations in fecal butyrate and plasma acetate. MethodsTo determine if the observed microbiota changes are required for 10,12 CLA-mediated weight loss, adult male mice with diet-induced obesity were given broad-spectrum antibiotics (ABX) to perturb the microbiota prior to and during 10,12 CLA-mediated weight loss. Conversely, to determine whether gut microbes were sufficient to induce weight loss, conventionally-raised and germ-free mice were transplanted with cecal contents from mice that had undergone weight loss by 10,12 CLA supplementation. ResultsWhile body weight was minimally modulated by ABX-mediated perturbation of gut bacterial populations, adult male mice given ABX were more resistant to the increased energy expenditure and fat loss that are induced by 10,12 CLA supplementation. Transplanting cecal contents from donor mice losing weight due to oral 10,12 CLA consumption into conventional or germ-free mice led to improved glucose metabolism with increased butyrate production. ConclusionsThese data suggest a critical role for the microbiota in diet-modulated changes in energy balance and glucose metabolism, and distinguish the metabolic effects of orally delivered 10,12 CLA from cecal transplantation of the resulting microbiota.

Dynamic low earth orbit multi satellite hopping beam resource allocation considering load and dynamic coverage balance (LDCB-MSHBRA)

A dynamic low earth orbit multi satellite hopping beam resource allocation method based on time slicing is proposed to address the issue of changing coverage and beam interference caused by satellite mobility in multi satellite and multi beam communication scenarios. The method involves six processes: (1) Establishing a low earth orbit satellite system with three identical configuration parameters and motion speed parameters; (2)Assign a value to the time slicing weight coefficient and use the principle of load balancing to minimize the difference in demand for dual star services as the optimization objective; (3) Obtain initial power resource allocation with maximum system capacity as the optimization objective; (4) Considering the mobility of low earth orbit satellites, updating weight coefficients and dynamically allocating power resources, a time resource dynamic allocation matrix and the optimal service cell set are obtained; (5) Update the independent coverage cell set of the third low earth orbit satellite, use the Lagrange equation of the weighted fair objective function to obtain the time resource allocation optimization matrix, and use one-way search to determine the optimal service cell set; (6) With the goal of maximizing system capacity, the optimal solution of the power resource allocation matrix for the third low earth orbit satellite is obtained. The system throughput is introduced to intuitively measure system performance, and adjustments are made based on the overlap of Samsung coverage. The resource allocation method is based on a fairness model, considering load balancing and dynamic coverage range changes. On the basis of improving the overall system throughput, it ensures the fairness of resource allocation and allocates time, frequency, and power resources to multiple satellites with overlapping coverage, which helps to improve the throughput and resource utilization of satellite systems.

Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Microvascular Complications Review Article

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced as a result of biochemical processes that are not in balance with the body's antioxidant defense mechanism. This metabolic dysfunction is referred to the oxidative stress (OS). Metabolic dysfunction-associated diseases are affected by changes in the redox balance. It is now widely recognized that oxidative stress significantly affects diabetes mellitus (DM), particularly type 2 diabetes. The biochemical changes associated with DM could disturb the oxidative milieu, leading to several microvascular complications in diabetic patients. Thus, DM is a perfect disease to explore the harmful consequences of oxidative stress and how to treat it. Oxidative stress triggered by hyperglycemia is an important contributor to the effects of diabetic microvascular diseases. Uncontrolled hyperglycemia carried by deficiencies in insulin secretion or action produces a number of problems, such as peripheral vascular disorders, nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, increased morbidity and/or mortality, as well as the incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) are rising globally. The development and progression of diabetic problems are strongly correlated with reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress, according to a wide body of research. This review aims to explore various markers of oxidative stress and the role of ROS in the pathogenesis and progression of late diabetic microvascular complications.

Rising Extreme Meltwater Trends in Greenland Ice Sheet (1950–2022): Surface Energy Balance and Large-Scale Circulation Changes

Abstract The Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) meltwater runoff has increased considerably since the 1990s, leading to implications for the ice sheet mass balance and ecosystem dynamics in ice-free areas. Extreme weather events will likely continue to occur in the coming decades. Therefore, a more thorough understanding of the spatiotemporal patterns of extreme melting events is of interest. This study aims to analyze the evolution of extreme melting events across the GrIS and determine the climatic factors that drive them. Specifically, we have analyzed extreme melting events (90th percentile) across the GrIS from 1950 to 2022 and examined their links to the surface energy balance (SEB) and large-scale atmospheric circulation. Extreme melting days account for approximately 35%–40% of the total accumulated melting per season. We found that extreme melting frequency, intensity, and contribution to the total accumulated June–August (summer) melting show a statistically significant upward trend at a 95% confidence level. The largest trends are detected across the northern GrIS. The trends are independent of the extreme melting percentile rank (90th, 97th, or 99th) analyzed and are consistent with average melting trends that exhibit an increase in similar magnitude and spatial configuration. Radiation plays a dominant role in controlling the SEB during extreme melting days. The increase in extreme melting frequency and intensity is driven by the increase in anticyclonic weather types during summer and more energy available for melting. Our results help to enhance the understanding of extreme events in the Arctic.

The effects of humic substances application on the phytohormone profile in Lactuca sativa L.

AbstractHumic substances (HS) are commonly employed as plant biostimulants to enhance crop yields. However, the HS mechanisms of action, as well as the differences between radicular and foliar modes of application, remain unclear. Here, we explored the changes in phytohormonal balance as possible mechanism of HS to enhance lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth, and the difference between both modes of application. For this purpose, BLACKJAK®, a HS‐based product was applied as radicular (R) and foliar (F) at the concentrations (mL/L): 0.20 (R1), 0.40 (R2), 0.60 (R3), 0.80 (R4), 5.00 (F1), 7.50 (F2), 10.00 (F3), and 12.50 (F4). The experiment was performed in pots filled with vermiculite:perlite (3:1) and HS were applied three times with a periodicity of 10 days. Shoot and root growth parameters were measured. In addition, the phythormones indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA), gibberellins (GAs), trans‐zeatine (tZ), isopentenyl adenine (iP), 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid (ACC), abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), and salicylic acid (SA), were analysed by U‐HPLC‐MS. BLACKJAK® application resulted in higher shoot growth at doses R1, R2, R3, F2, and F3, whereas root biomass was increased at R2, R3, F2, F3, and F4, showing radicular better plant growth than foliar applications. Furthermore, HS changed phytohormonal balance in shoots and roots. However, it was with radicular applications, especially at R2, where phytohormonal profile was best associated with plant growth due to the increases observed in IAA, GAs, JA, SA, tZ, and decreased ABA. However, further research is needed to clarify the involvement of hormones in the growth‐promoting action of HS.

Articulated ankle-foot orthoses associated with home-based task-specific training improve functional mobility in patients with stroke: a randomized clinical trial

ABSTRACT Introduction We compared fixed and articulated ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) in home-based mobility tasks to assess short-term mobility, dynamic balance, quality of life, anxiety/depression, disability level, stroke severity, autonomy, human functioning, and patient satisfaction. Methods This was a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding, and a complete case analysis involving patients with chronic stroke. The participants were randomized into two groups: fixed (n = 24) and articulated (n = 23) AFOs. The AFOs were custom-fabricated, and both groups performed four-week home-based mobility tasks five days weekly. Primary outcome measures included changes in balance and mobility assessed using the Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and Functional Ambulation Category (FAC). Secondary outcomes included quality of life, anxiety/depression, disability, stroke severity, autonomy, human functioning, and patient satisfaction. Results In a between-group comparison, after adjusting for age, sex, stroke severity, and thrombolysis, the articulated AFO group showed better performance in the TUG test (p = 0.020; d = 0.93), POMA-Gait (p = 0.001; d = 0.53), POMA-Total (p = 0.048; d = 0.98), and FAC (p = 0.003; d = 1.03) than the fixed AFO group. Moreover, significant difference was noted in human functioning (moving around using equipment)between the groups (p = 0.047; d = 92). Conclusion A program involving home-based mobility tasks and articulated AFOs improved functional mobility after stroke.

Occupational heat stress and its health impacts- an overview of research status and need for further research in Southeast Asia with special emphasis on mitigation strategies in North East India.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC predicts that hot seasons will get even hotter due to global climate change. There exists a critical dependence of human metabolic processes on temperature. Changes in thermal balance therefore, have an adverse effect on health because they raise body temperature, cause excessive sweating, and accelerate the rate of dehydration. Different nations and professional groups use different techniques to measure heat strain. This paper aims to review previous research conducted in the area of heat strain due to heat exposure among workers in Southeast Asia and also to profile mitigation strategies in North East India. Studies conducted between the years 2011 to 2023 in the evaluation of the health impacts of occupational heat stress were searched systematically using several sources of databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, etc. It was noted that a greater proportion of previous research on evaluating physiological effects was carried out in controlled environments as opposed to real-world field settings. While such studies give us valuable insights into the relationship, applying the same methodology in the workplace may not be feasible. In India, very few research has been carried out on workplace heat stress, and even fewer have been done in North East India using physiological indicators. North East India is also affected by global climate change leading top more hotter days than before. The region of Northeast India, particularly Guwahati (Assam), has recently seen extreme heat waves during the sweltering summer months. With less literature available in this geographical location, studies with actual field-based settings are much needed to understand the occupational health impacts in this region. This review can formulate a suitable methodology for assessing the health impacts in working environment. This can also help the local health professionals to recognize the heat strain parameters that are acceptable worldwide, and use as pertinent indicators to scrutinize worker's health and develop preventive agendas as climate change advances.

Exploring the impacts of daytime sleepiness on gait, physical balance, and the occurrence of orofacial trauma: a narrative review

Daytime sleepiness (DS) often accompanies obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), exacerbating its effects. DS can impair cognitive function, attention, reaction time, and motor coordination, increasing the risk of accidents. This study aimed to explore the relationship between DS, changes in gait and balance, and the occurrence of orofacial fractures. A narrative review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science publications. The analysis revealed the impact of DS and OSA on gait and balance control in older individuals, emphasizing the need for interventions to address these issues and identify associated pathologies. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy was recognized as a potential treatment, although further research is needed to understand DS triggers and treatment options in older populations. The study underscores the importance of analyzing interactions between the central nervous system, medications, balance, and mobility to prevent falls and related injuries. While the literature highlights the vulnerability of elderly individuals and those with OSA to falls, no established link between DS, gait, balance, and orofacial trauma necessitating medical and dental intervention was found. Thus, further research is warranted to address this gap and promote better understanding and management of these conditions.

Trophic Ecology of the Pyjama Shark Poroderma africanum (Gmelin, 1789) Elucidated by Stable Isotopes.

Sharks may occupy both intermediate and upper levels of marine food webs. They are overfished worldwide and constitute one of the largest portions of the bycatch. The removal of top-predator species has negative cascading effects on the entire food web, causing the "mesopredator release" phenomenon, which leads to an increase in mesopredators with consequent changes in the ecosystem's energetic balance. Despite their important ecological role, information on their trophic ecology is limited. This essential information can be obtained through the analysis of stomach contents and, more recently, by using less invasive techniques, such as the stable isotope analysis of muscle tissue, obtained through biopsies. Here, we analysed the trophic ecology of the pyjama shark or striped catshark Poroderma africanum, an endemic species of South Africa, by means of SIA. The results obtained from SIA were analysed using the R SIMMR and SIBER packages to estimate the contribution of potential food sources to the diet and to evaluate the extent of the trophic niches. The SIMMR outputs showed that adults select more benthic prey than juveniles, which consume more planktonic species, with juveniles being more generalist than adults, according to SIBER outputs. As assessed by IUCN, the population of P. africanum is increasing, and given its role as mesopredator, future monitoring efforts could be crucial to elucidating their potential effects in marine food webs.

Why Does Not the U.S. Attack China? The Fog of the Future and Historic Optimism in Policies of Great Powers

The rise of China constitutes a challenge for the U.S. hegemonic aspirations. However, Washington reacts to it rather belatedly and with restrain. Up until the mid-2020s, the United States did not consider the preventive use of force as a means to deter its competitor. On the contrary, it maintained intensive economic ties with China, contributing to its further strengthening. The article argues that the U.S. policy towards China reflects the optimism within the U.S. leadership regarding the long-term preservation of the foundations of its international standing. In other words, the United States does not perceive itself a declining power; rather, it believes that China will not be able to compete with it in the forceable future. In this regard, the U.S. has pursued primarily a delaying strategy, combining restrained pressure with unwillingness to either escalate or make significant concessions. The U.S. optimism proceeds from the prevailing uncertainty in international relations about the relative balance of power among great powers and the unclear prospects of future shifts in national capabilities. Under these conditions, Washington relies on ideological convictions in the superiority of its political, economic and social model over its competitors and appeals to the past patterns of great power rivalry. This study covers the period from the late 2000s to the mid-2020s. The article begins with a theoretical justification of the origins of optimism of weakening powers. Then, it examines changes in balance of power between the U.S. and China based on traditional indicators of national capabilities. Following this, the article explores the arguments against the U.S. decline and summarizes official assessments of threats to U.S. global standing. Finally, it traces the comparative roles of accommodation, coercion and restraint in the U.S. policy towards China. The analysis envisages an adjustment in the conceptual understanding of the dynamics of great power rivalry. It demonstrates that the lack of reliable information does not necessarily lead to intensifications of rivalries (as suggested by the “security dilemma”), but can also limit confrontation.

Periodic Catatonia: A Tangled Spectra within Neuropsychiatry

Catatonia was first described by Kahlbaum in 1874. Subsequently, in 1908, Kraepelin delineated a cyclical pattern of catatonia in a group of patients with Schizophrenia. Further ahead, in 1938, Gjessing demonstrated the role of nitrogen phasic change in synchronous syntonic cases of periodic catatonia. However, Stokes et al., in 1941, demonstrated it to be a result of steady accumulation rather than a phasic change in nitrogen balance. There are no reliable prevalence figures for periodic catatonia. Prominent diagnostic manuals have not given this diagnostic entity a separate nosological status, despite evidence of a discrete metabolic profile. This case series elucidates periodic catatonia in different psychiatric disorders and how a separate diagnostic criterion could help in early detection and management. We narrate three case reports of catatonic manifestations in two young adolescents and one young adult male, with no underlying medical condition. The first case report highlights intermittent brief periods of catatonic excitement beginning with acute anxiety and followed by fainting spells. The second case report narrates an acute onset manic episode which alternates with the catatonic episode. The third case report shows seasonal advents of catatonia. The pharmacological intervention itself was adequate enough to resolve the catatonic symptoms. The three cases give a purview of catatonic manifestations with differential phenomenology. The treatment of catatonia bears challenges owing to a lack of awareness and differential response to available pharmacotherapy.

Short physical performance battery in aerobic capacity and physical activity evaluation of individuals with peripheral artery disease: An exploratory study

BackgroundPeripheral artery disease (PAD) negatively affects functional ability. Persons with PAD experience gait limitation, and changes in mobility, muscle strength, and balance. Assessing individuals with PAD with tests of lower limb performance during activities other than walking may provide information about aerobic capacity. ObjectiveTo evaluate whether the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) can discriminate aerobic capacity and level of physical activity in individuals with PAD. MethodsThe SPPB, Incremental Shuttle Walking Test (ISWT), and the Human Activity Profile (HAP) were completed by 42 volunteers with PAD. The sample was stratified into tertiles by the distance walked in the ISWT and the Adjusted Activity Score (AAS) of HAP. One-way analysis of variance with a post-hoc least significant difference was used to compare the SPPB values between tertiles of ISWT and AAS of HAP. P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. ResultsThe mean age was 65 ± 7.7 years, the walking distance was 259.29 ± 115.28 m, and AAS of HAP was 68.36 ± 9.04. There was a significant difference in the total SPPB score and scores for gait speed and sit-to-stand for groups stratified by ISWT and AAS of HAP(p = 0.01). The balance domain was different only for groups stratified into tertiles by AAS of HAP(p = 0.04). ConclusionThe results of this study have clinical relevance for the evaluation of individuals with PAD at different aerobic and physical activity levels. The SPPB is a viable alternative in the practice of the specialty of vascular nursing and other areas of health to assess patients whose ability to perform walking tests is often limited.

Adjustment of storage capacity for non-structural carbohydrates in response to limited water availability in two temperate woody species.

Reserves of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) stored in living cells are essential for drought tolerance of trees. However, little is known about the phenotypic plasticity of living storage compartments (SC) and their interactions with NSC reserves under changing water availability. Here, we examined adjustments of SC and NSC reserves in stems and roots of seedlings of two temperate tree species, Acer negundo L. and Betula pendula Roth., cultivated under different substrate water availability. We found that relative contents of soluble NSC, starch and total NSC increased with decreasing water availability in stems of both species, and similar tendencies were also observed in roots of A. negundo. In the roots of B. pendula, soluble NSC contents decreased along with the decreasing water availability, possibly due to phloem decoupling or NSC translocation to shoots. Despite the contrast in organ responses, NSC contents (namely starch) positively correlated with proportions of total organ SC. Individual types of SC showed markedly distinct plasticity upon decreasing water availability, suggesting that water availability changes the partitioning of organ storage capacity. We found an increasing contribution of parenchyma-rich bark to the total organ NSC storage capacity under decreasing water availability. However, xylem SC showed substantially greater plasticity than those in bark. Axial storage cells, namely living fibers in A. negundo, responded more sensitively to decreasing water availability than radial parenchyma. Our results demonstrate that drought-induced changes in carbon balance affect the organ storage capacity provided by living cells, whose proportions are sensitively coordinated along with changing NSC reserves.

Hemodynamic Mechanisms Initiating Salt-Sensitive Hypertension in Rat Model of Primary Aldosteronism.

Few studies have investigated the hemodynamic mechanism whereby primary hyperaldosteronism causes hypertension. The traditional view holds that hyperaldosteronism initiates hypertension by amplifying salt-dependent increases in cardiac output (CO) by promoting increases in sodium retention and blood volume. Systemic vascular resistance (SVR) is said to increase only as a secondary consequence of the increased CO and blood pressure. Recently, we investigated the primary hemodynamic mechanism whereby hyperaldosteronism promotes salt sensitivity and initiation of salt-dependent hypertension. In unilaterally nephrectomized male Sprague-Dawley rats given infusions of aldosterone or vehicle, we found that aldosterone promoted salt sensitivity and initiation of salt-dependent hypertension by amplifying salt-induced increases in SVR while decreasing CO. In addition, we validated mathematical models of human integrative physiology, derived from Guyton's classic 1972 model - Quantitative Cardiovascular Physiology-2005 and HumMod-3.0.4. Neither model accurately predicted the usual changes in sodium balance, CO, and SVR that normally occur in response to clinically realistic increases in salt intake. These results demonstrate significant limitations with the hypotheses inherent in the Guyton models. Together these findings challenge the traditional view of the hemodynamic mechanisms that cause salt-sensitive hypertension in primary aldosteronism. Key words: Aldosterone, Blood pressure, Salt, Sodium, Rat.

Influence of inhomogeneities in chemical composition and porosity of sintered steel on development of martensitic transformation

The article is devoted to the study of martensitic transformation in porous sintered steels. When analyzing the process of development of marten­sitic transformation in porous sintered steel, the influence of two factors was assessed: depletion of carbon in the near-surface layers of pores and a change in the energy balance due to relaxation of transformation stresses on free surfaces of the pores. The martensitic transformation was studied in porous steel with a carbon content of 1.56 wt. % obtained after pressing and sintering of a mixture of PZhRV iron powders and GK-3 graphite in hydrogen atmosphere at 1200 °C. Gas carburizing at 1100 °C and homogenization helped to achieve the specified carbon content. The samples were quenched in a sodium chloride solution at a temperature of 27 °C. Pre-cooling was used from temperatures Ast to 800 °C at a rate of 62 °C/s. X-ray microanaly­sis of carbon distribution was carried out using the installation CAMECA Microsonde M.S. 46 with a probe diameter of two microns. The martensite plates predominantly formed on the pores’ surfaces and their cross section had shape close to rhomboidal. The data obtained on the morphology of α′-phase crystals growing from pores and the study by X-ray spectral microanalysis of carbon distribution along the largest martensite plates convince us of the absence of any significant changes in carbon content and, as a consequence, their influence on development of martensitic transformation in the area of pores is not the leader. For sintered porous steels, an irremovable factor in the increase in temperature is the presence of porosity, in contrast to a removable factor – inhomogeneity of the chemical composition, which is caused by incompleteness of the alloy homogenization processes, both during sintering and during the austenitization process that precedes quenching.