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Constraining the lithospheric rheology of Tibetan Plateau is important for the physical understanding of its tectonics. Siling Co, the largest high‐altitude lake in the world, has experienced a rapid water level increase in the 2000s. The resulting loading changes stimulate the viscoelastic response of the lower crust, giving access to study the lithospheric rheology in central Tibet. Here, we derive a clear subsidence signal around the lake with peak velocity of 4 mm/yr from two tracks of Sentinel‐1 InSAR images acquired from 2017 to 2022. Our viscoelastic modeling suggests a ductile layer 15 km beneath the surface with a decadal‐scale, steady‐state viscosity of 1–4 × 1019 Pa s. This value is consistent with the viscosity inferred from millennium‐scale shoreline changes, but is about 10 times higher than the viscosities derived from the deformation surrounding Siling Co before 2011, highlighting the role of transient viscosity in controlling the surface deformation. Plain Language Summary: The change of surface loading will cause the response of earth lithosphere, including instantaneous, concentrated elastic and delayed, wide‐range viscoelastic deformation at the surface. With the change of climate, the amount of water in many lakes in the Tibetan Plateau has changed. The resulted water loading changes can cause surface deformation that can be measured by space‐borne radar images. Using the Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), we measure the deformation around the Siling Co, the largest high‐altitude lake in the world, with the peak subsidence velocity of up to 4 mm/yr. According to numerical modeling, we find that the deformation mainly comes from the viscoelastic response of the ductile layer 15 km beneath the surface. The inferred viscosity of 1–4 × 1019 Pa s is consistent with the value derived from millennium‐scale shoreline changes. Our research links the surface displacement with the strengths of the deep earth, providing a direct constraint for geodynamics models. Key Points: We observe subsidence around the Siling Co from Sentinel‐1 InSAR images acquired between 2017 and 2022 with a peak rate of 4 mm/yrA ductile layer below 15 km with a viscosity of 1–4 × 1019 Pa s can explain the observed subsidence around the Siling CoThis decadal‐scale viscosity is consistent with the millennial‐scale value derived from paleoshoreline changes around the Siling Co [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Constraining the lithospheric rheology of Tibetan Plateau is important for the physical understanding of its tectonics. Siling Co, the largest high‐altitude lake in the world, has experienced a rapid water level increase in the 2000s. The resulting loading changes stimulate the viscoelastic response of the lower crust, giving access to study the lithospheric rheology in central Tibet. Here, we derive a clear subsidence signal around the lake with peak velocity of 4 mm/yr from two tracks of Sentinel‐1 InSAR images acquired from 2017 to 2022. Our viscoelastic modeling suggests a ductile layer 15 km beneath the surface with a decadal‐scale, steady‐state viscosity of 1–4 × 1019 Pa s. This value is consistent with the viscosity inferred from millennium‐scale shoreline changes, but is about 10 times higher than the viscosities derived from the deformation surrounding Siling Co before 2011, highlighting the role of transient viscosity in controlling the surface deformation.

The objective of this study was to understand the response of mice lacking insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) to an acute water load. For mammals to respond appropriately to acute water loading, vasopressin activity needs to decrease. IRAP degrades vasopressin in vivo. Therefore, we hypothesized that mice lacking IRAP have an impaired ability to degrade vasopressin and, thus, have persistent urinary concentration. Age-matched 8- to 12-wk-old IRAP wild-type (WT) and knockout (KO) male mice were used for all experiments. Blood electrolytes and urine osmolality were measured before and 1 h after water load (-2 mL sterile water via intraperitoneal injection). Urine was collected from IRAP WT and KO mice for urine osmolality measurements at baseline and after 1 h administration of the vasopressin type 2 receptor antagonist OPC-31260 (10 mg/kg ip). Immunofluorescence and immunoblot analysis were performed on kidneys at baseline and after 1 h acute water load. IRAP was expressed in the glomerulus, thick ascending loop of Henle, distal tubule, connecting duct, and collecting duct. IRAP KO mice had elevated urine osmolality compared with WT mice due to higher membrane expression of aquaporin 2 (AQP2), which was restored to that of controls after administration of OPC-31260. IRAP KO mice developed hyponatremia after an acute water load because they were unable to increase free water excretion due to increased surface expression of AQP2. In conclusion, IRAP is required to increase water excretion in response to an acute water load due to persistent vasopressin stimulation of AQP2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of research documenting the weight-making practices of mixed-martial-arts (MMA) competitors. The purpose of the investigation was to quantify the magnitude and identify the methods of rapid weight loss (RWL) and rapid weight gain (RWG) in MMA athletes preparing for competition. Seven athletes (mean ± SD, age 24.6 ± 3.5 yrs, body mass 69.9 ± 5.7 kg, competitive experience 3.1 ± 2.2 yrs) participated in a repeated-measures design. Measures of dietary intake, urinary hydration status, and body mass were recorded in the week preceding competition. Body mass decreased significantly (p < .0005) from baseline by 5.6 ± 1.4 kg (8 ± 1.8%). During the RWG period (32 ± 1 hr) body mass increased significantly (p < .001) by 7.4 ± 2.8 kg (11.7 ± 4.7%), exceeding RWL. Mean energy and carbohydrate intake were 3176 ± 482 kcal⋅day-1 and 471 ± 124 g⋅day-1, respectively. At the official weigh-in 57% of athletes were dehydrated (1033 ± 19 mOsmol⋅kg-1) and the remaining 43% were severely dehydrated (1267 ± 47 mOsmol⋅kg-1). Athletes reported using harmful dehydration-based RWL strategies, including sauna (43%) and training in plastic suits (43%). Results demonstrated RWG greater than RWL, this is a novel finding and may be attributable to the 32 hr duration from weigh-in till competition. The observed magnitude of RWL and strategies used are comparable to those which have previously resulted in fatalities. Rule changes which make RWL impractical should be implemented with immediate effect to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of competitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Nolan, D, Lynch, AE, and Egan, B. Self-reported prevalence, magnitude, and methods of rapid weight loss in male and female competitive powerlifters. J Strength Cond Res 36(2): 405–410, 2022—Rapid weight loss (RWL) is common practice in weight category sports, but no empirical data exist documenting the weight-making practices of competitive strength athletes. This study investigated the self-reported prevalence, magnitude, and methods of RWL used by male and female powerlifters when preparing for competition. Competitive powerlifters (n = 321; M/F, 194/127) completed an anonymous online questionnaire previously validated for assessment of methods of RWL. Respondents were categorized by their federation's respective antidoping policy, weigh-in procedure, and degree of assistive equipment allowed, in addition to their use or not of RWL. Subgroup analyses were performed on the largest category of respondents (n = 200, M/F, 117/83; ≤2-hour weigh-in, drug-tested, "raw") based on sex, weight category, and competitive status. Prevalence of RWL was 85.8%, with an average RWL of 3.0 ± 1.9% body mass and an RWL score of 25.1 ± 7.4. Neither sex nor weight category influenced the RWL score, but in male athletes, a lower RWL score (22.7 ± 6.3) was reported in athletes in the lowest tertile of the Wilks score (p = 0.015). Frequencies of "always use" were reported as 54.0% for fluid restriction and 49.0% for water loading. Coaches (37.5%) and online resources (35.0%) were "very influential" on RWL practices in these athletes, while doctors (85.5%) and dieticians (63.0%) were reported to be "not influential." The prevalence of RWL is high in competitive powerlifting, and the methods used are akin to other weight category sports, but the reported RWL scores are lower than reported in combat sports with longer recovery periods after weigh-in. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of water-loading weight loss on physiologic response. METHODS Thirteen consenting university wrestlers (weight 71.5±8.0 kg, BMI 25.0±2.0 kg/m²) randomly divided into the weight loss (WL) group (n=6) and water-loading weight loss (WWL) group (n=7). Wrestlers performed 2-week weight loss program targeting average of 5-10% of body weight reduction, under the supervision of a coach. Participants were instructed to drink 1.5-2 L and 6-7 L daily during the first week in the WL and WWL groups, respectively. Both groups were gradually reduced water intake and didn’t drink water the day before weighing. Anthropometric characteristics, hematocrit (HCT), serum electrolytes, aldosterone, and cortisol were measured before and after weight loss. Data were analyzed with two-way ANOVA using SPSS. The significance level was set at p

The authors examined the effects of combined creatine (Cr) and glycerol (Gly) supplementation on responses to exercise in the heat. Subjects (N = 24) were matched for body mass and assigned to either a Cr or placebo (Pl) group. Twice daily during two 7-d supplementation regimens, the Cr group received 11.4 g of Cr⋅H2O and the Pl group received 11.4 g of glucose. Subjects in both groups also ingested 1 g of Gly/kg body mass (twice daily) in either the first or the second supplementation regimen. This design allowed 4 possible combinations of supplements to be examined (Pl/Pl, Pl/Gly, Cr/Pl, and Cr/Gly). Exercise trials were conducted pre- and post-supplementation at 30 °C and 70% relative humidity. In the Pl group, total body water (TBW) increased by 0.50 ± 0.28 L after Gly and in the Cr group by 0.63 ± 0.33 L after Pl and by 0.87 ± 0.21 L after Gly. Both Cr/Pl and Cr/Gly resulted in significantly attenuated heart rate, rectal temperature, and perceived effort during exercise, although no regimen had any effect on performance. The addition of Gly to Cr significantly increased TBW more than Cr alone (P = 0.02) but did not further enhance the attenuation in HR, Tre, and RPE during exercise. These data suggest that combined Cr and Gly is an effective method of hyperhydration capable of reducing thermal and cardiovascular responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslides have caused extensive infrastructure damage and caused human fatalities for centuries. Intense precipitation and large earthquakes are considered to be two major landslide triggers, particularly in the case of catastrophic landslides. The most widely accepted mechanistic explanation for landslides is the effective-stress dependent shear strength reduction due to increases in pore water pressure. The Chashan landslide site, selected for the present study, has been intensively studied from geological, geophysical, geodetic, geotechnical, hydrological, and seismological perspectives. Our seismic monitoring of daily relative velocity changes (dv/v) indicated that landslide material decreases coincided with the first half of the rainy period and increased during the latter half of the rainy period. The geodetic surveys before and after the rainy period identified vertical subsidence without horizontal movement. The results from the multidisciplinary investigation enabled us to draw a conceptual model of the landslide recovery process induced by water loading. Where all sliding materials were stable (safety factor > 1.0), unconsolidated landslide colluvium and impermeable sliding surfaces trapped the seepage water to form a water tank, provided that compact forces were acting on the materials below the sliding boundary. The vertical force of compaction facilitates an increase in the cohesion and strength of landslide materials, thereby increasing the landslide materials’ stability. We demonstrated that the recovery process periodically occurs only under the combined conditions of prolonged and intense precipitation and the related stability conditions.

Rapid weight loss (RWL) is frequently practiced in weight category sports, including Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). The aim of the present study was to describe self-reported methods of RWL in a sample of competitive MMA athletes comprising of both amateur and professional fighters. The previously-validated Rapid Weight Loss Questionnaire, with the addition of questions on water loading and hot salt baths, was completed anonymously online by athletes (n = 30; all male, n = 15/15 professional/amateur) from MMA clubs around Dublin, Ireland. All but one (97%) of the athletes surveyed lost weight in order to compete, with the average weight loss being 7.9% - 3.1% of habitual body mass. The RWL score (mean ± SD) for this sample was 37.9 ± 9.6, and a tendency for higher [6.0 (95%CI; -1.1, 13.1) (p = 0.093; d = 0.64)] RWL scores for professional (40.8 ± 8.9) compared to amateur (34.8 ± 9.6) athletes was observed. Frequencies of "always" or "sometimes" were reported as 90% for water loading, 76% for hot salt baths and 55% for 24 h of fasting. Fellow fighters (41%) and coaches/mentors (38%) were "very influential" on RWL practices of these athletes, with doctors (67%), dietitians (41%), and physical trainers (37%) said to be "not influential". RWL is highly prevalent in MMA across both amateur and professional athletes, and RWL scores are higher than other combat sports. Water loading and hot salt baths are amongst the most commonly used methods of RWL despite little research on these methods for body mass reduction or effects on performance in weight category sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid weight loss (RWL) is frequently practiced in weight category sports, including Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). The aim of the present study was to describe self-reported methods of RWL in a sample of competitive MMA athletes comprising of both amateur and professional fighters. The previously-validated Rapid Weight Loss Questionnaire, with the addition of questions on water loading and hot salt baths, was completed anonymously online by athletes (n = 30; all male, n = 15/15 professional/amateur) from MMA clubs around Dublin, Ireland. All but one (97%) of the athletes surveyed lost weight in order to compete, with the average weight loss being 7.9% ± 3.1% of habitual body mass. The RWL score (mean ± SD) for this sample was 37.9 ± 9.6, and a tendency for higher [6.0 (95%CI; −1.1, 13.1) (p = 0.093; d = 0.64)] RWL scores for professional (40.8 ± 8.9) compared to amateur (34.8 ± 9.6) athletes was observed. Frequencies of “always” or “sometimes” were reported as 90% for water loading, 76% for hot salt baths and 55% for 24 h of fasting. Fellow fighters (41%) and coaches/mentors (38%) were “very influential” on RWL practices of these athletes, with doctors (67%), dietitians (41%), and physical trainers (37%) said to be “not influential”. RWL is highly prevalent in MMA across both amateur and professional athletes, and RWL scores are higher than other combat sports. Water loading and hot salt baths are amongst the most commonly used methods of RWL despite little research on these methods for body mass reduction or effects on performance in weight category sports.

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) converts algal biomass into a crude bio-oil (biocrude) and aqueous-phase products. The effect of temperature, water loading, and added H 2 and/or Ru/C catalyst on the properties of the biocrude that spontaneously separates from the aqueous phase post reaction and also the biocrude that is extractable from the aqueous phase by dichloromethane is explored herein. This report is the first to elucidate how the yields, compositions, heating values, and energy recoveries of the two biocrudes vary with the processing conditions above. Increasing temperature from 350 to 400 °C increased the yield of water-insoluble biocrude (38.1–42.5 wt%) and its hexane-soluble subfraction (63.7–85.6 wt%) while decreasing the yield of extractable, water-soluble biocrude (6.6–2.5 wt%). The Ru/C catalyst had the same effect. Reaction temperature and catalysts could be used to manipulate the proportions of water-soluble and water-insoluble biocrude from algae HTL and thereby manipulate biocrude quantity and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bodybuilders utilize peaking strategies in a bid to fine-tune their aesthetics for competition day. The most prevalent peaking strategies utilized by natural bodybuilders are unreported in the current literature. Eighty-one (M-59, F-22) natural bodybuilders were recruited from competitions during the 2016 and 2017 British Natural Bodybuilder Federation seasons. Competitors completed a 34-item questionnaire designed to investigate peaking and contest day strategies. The questionnaire listed commonly utilized peaking strategies and provided additional space for qualitative information. Analysis of the data indicated that carbohydrate (CHO), water, and sodium manipulation were the most commonly utilized peaking strategies. The consumption of high glycemic index CHO was the most common competition day strategy. Only 6.2% of competitors reported following their regular diet the week prior to competition. The CHO manipulation strategies followed were similar to classical CHO loading, whereby bodybuilders attempt to maximize muscle glycogen concentrations. Furthermore, bodybuilders attempted to remove superfluous water by exploiting the diuretic/polyuria effect associated with water loading/restriction. The potentially deleterious effects of peaking on bodybuilders’ health is considered and the efficacy of these strategies to enhance appearance is discussed. The findings of the present investigation are likely to be of interest to bodybuilders and their coaches.

We present new fault data for the region of the Manaus, Central Amazonia, Brazil. Field measurements concentrate on the Miocene–Holocene sedimentary deposits exposed on the Amazonas River Basin, in order to investigate the development of this region in this time-interval. Two faulting events are distinguished since the Miocene. The oldest one is related to NW–SE extension during Miocene times and associated with paleoseismicity, while the younger is associated with NE–SW extension direction and seems to persist today. These two deformational events may be thereby considered Neotectonic. Moreover, the second extensional pulse with NE–SW orientation can be explained by the surface hydrological loading, which induces the Central Amazonia flexural subsidence and may promote extensional stresses in the upper crust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Geomorphometric techniques applied to remote sensing data represent powerful tools as an aid for detecting terrain features produced by recent vertical crustal movements in a variety of landscapes. In this work, geomorphometric analysis of the Central Amazonia drainage network using Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data was carried out to determine surface water loading and tectonic influence on the development of the Uatumã and Urubu river basins since the Miocene. The main objective was to detect geomorphological domains of lateral stream migration and channel sinuosity changes that could indicate recent vertical crustal movement. To achieve this, the Transverse Topographic Symmetry Factor and Sinuosity Index were applied to analyze the study area drainage network. Comparison of the geomorphological domains with structural field data and records of seismicity suggests that they are influenced by subsurface fault reactivation, which coincides in space with faults mapped in outcrops that have activated since the Miocene. This interpretation is corroborated by the spatial correspondence between these faults with domain boundaries and shapes, by river sinuosity change when crossing these boundaries, and by a high concentration of seismic activity along one of these limits. The crustal movement caused by hydrological loading can also influence such geomorphological features. Such is the case of lateral stream migrations of a domain in the opposite sense to the Amazon River flow. This may be a consequence of the more pronounced expression of hydrological loading in the Negro and Solimões river confluence region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: It has been shown that supplementation with creatine (Cr) and glycerol (Gly), when combined with glucose (Glu) necessary for the enhancement of Cr uptake by skeletal muscle, induces significant improvements in thermoregulatory and cardiovascular responses during exercise in the heat. Purpose: To determine whether Cr/Gly-induced thermoregulatory and cardiovascular responses are maintained when the majority (~75%) of the Glu in the Cr/Gly supplement is replaced with the insulintropic agent alpha lipoic acid (Ala). Methods: 22 healthy endurance trained cyclists were randomly assigned to receive either 20 g/day (4 × 5 g/day) of Cr, 2 g .kg-1 BM per day (4 × 0.5 g .kg-1 BM per day) of Gly and 150 g/day (4 × 37.5 g/day) of Glu or 20 g/day (4 × 5 g/day) of Cr monohydrate, 2 g .kg-1 BM per day (4 × 0.5 g .kg-1 BM per day) of Gly (100 g/day (4 × 25 g/day) of Glu and 1000 mg/day (4 × 250 mg/day) of Ala for 7 days for 7 days. Exercise trials were conducted pre- and post-supplementation and involved 40 min of constant-load cycling exercise at 70% O2 max by a self-paced 16.1 km time trial at 30°C and 70% relative humidity. Results: Median and range values of TBW increased significantly by 2.1 (1.3-3.3) L and 1.8 (0.2-4.6) L in Cr/Gly/Glu and Cr/Gly/Glu/Ala groups respectively (P = 0.03) and of BM not significantly by 1.8 (0.2-3.0) kg and 1.2 (0.5-2.1) kg in Cr/Gly/Glu and in Cr/Gly/Glu/Ala, respectively (P = 0.75). During constant load exercise, heart rate (HR) and core temperature (Tcore) were significantly lower post-supplementation: HR was reduced on average by 3.3 ± 2.1 beats/min and by 4.8 ± 3.3 beats/min (mean ± SD) and Tcore by 0.2 ± 0.1 (mean ± SD) in the Cr/Gly/Glu and Cr/Gly/Glu/Ala, respectively The reduction in HR and Tcore was not significantly different between the supplementation groups. Conclusions: In comparison to the established hyper hydrating Cr/Gly/Glu supplement, supplement containing Cr/Gly/Ala and decreased amount of Glu provides equal improvements in thermoregulatory and cardiovascular responses during exercise in the heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alteration in autonomic function has been implicated as a possible pathophysiologic mechanism in functional dyspepsia (FD) in adults.Methods: This was a two-part study. For the first part of the study, nine children with FD and 28 controls underwent heart rate variability (HRV) analysis for 30 min baseline and for 60 min following a test meal. For the second part of the study, eight children with FD and 26 controls underwent HRV analysis for 30 min baseline and for 60 min following rapid water loading. HRV analysis yielded measures for power in the high frequency (HF) band (vagal activity), power in the low frequency (LF) band (mainly sympathetic activity), and LF/HF (sympathovagal balance).Results: HRV parameters did not differ between FD patients and controls in either baseline period or following water loading. Following the meal, HF was higher and LF and LF/HF were lower in FD patients as compared to controls. Baseline LF/HF was positively correlated with the water load volume in controls and negatively correlated with the water load volume in FD patients.Conclusion: FD in children is associated with an abnormal autonomic response best demonstrated following a meal. The relationship between baseline sympathovagal balance and water load volume in FD patients is distinctly different from the relationship in control children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

•Lodging, the permanent displacement of crop plants from their vertical because of root or shoot failure, is a major yield constraint of the gluten free, panicle bearing cereal teff. The objective of this paper was to analyse the causes of lodging of teff by using, modifying and validating conventional biomechanical models. •The model parameters were obtained from a field trial with two contrasting teff cultivars, using novel in situ and laboratory measurements under wet and dry conditions. Cross-species model validation was done with rice ( Oryza sativa). •Teff is more susceptible to root lodging than to shoot lodging, although the data indicated that shoot strength is also insufficient. Hence, simultaneously breeding for both improved root anchorage and shoot strength is advocated. •The study showed that the lodging model, derived for the spike-bearing cereal wheat, needed modifications in order to be able to deal with panicle-bearing plants such as teff and rice. Water adhering to plants owing to rain or dew increased calculated lodging susceptibility. To prevent underestimation of lodging susceptibility, future lodging research should be done under completely wet conditions (water saturated soil and wetted shoots) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the behavior of concrete material in ambient water, a series of triaxial compressive tests of concrete cylindrical specimens ([lowercase_phi_synonym]100×200 mm) was conducted on a large scale triaxial machine. The acting pattern of water, confining pressure, loading strain rate, and moisture content were chosen as test parameters. The water acting patterns on concrete were directly divided into mechanical loading and real water loading according to whether the specimens were directly exposed to water or not. The confining pressure ranged from 0–8 MPa and the strain rate included 10-5/s, 10-3/s, and 10-2/s. By testing dry and saturated specimens, the effect of moisture on concrete strength was also examined. The test results indicated that the compressive strengths of both dry and saturated concrete increase obviously with the confining pressure under mechanical confining pressure. However, the effect on the strengthened dry concrete specimens is more significant. The strength of dry concrete under real water loading decreased remarkably, even less than its uniaxial strength, whereas the compressive strength of the saturated concrete specimen under real water loading is close to its uniaxial compressive strength. The strength of concrete increases with strain rate, and this phenomenon becomes more apparent under water loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PGE2 has an established role in renal water handling. The present study was undertaken to examine the role of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) in the diuretic response to acute and chronic water loading. Compared with wild-type (+/+) controls, mPGES-1 -/- mice exhibited impaired ability to excrete an acute, but not chronic water load. In response to acute water loading, urinary PGE2 excretion in the +/+ mice increased at 2 h, in parallel with increased urine flow. In contrast, the -/- mice exhibited a delayed increase in urinary PGE2 excretion, coinciding with the stimulation of renal medullary mRNA expression of cytosolic prostaglandin E synthase but not mPGES-2. At baseline, renal aquaporin-2 (AQP2) expression in mPGES-1 -/- mice was enhanced compared with the +/+ control. In response to acute water loading, renal AQP2 expression in the +/+ mice was significantly reduced, and this reduction was blunted in the -/- mice. Despite striking changes in AQP2 protein expression, renal AQP2 mRNA in both genotypes largely remained unchanged. Overall, these data support an important role of mPGES-1 in provoking the diuretic response to acute water loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In comparison with the well-known swelling of organic polymer membranes, zeolite membranes have been considered for a long time as relatively stiff. The problem of the different thermal expansion coefficients of the α-Al2O3 support and the zeolite layer was usually reduced on a possible crack formation during the template removal of MFI membranes. However, the crack formation could be avoided by an extremely slow heating rate and by membrane layers formed of small and non-oriented zeolite crystallites. Several papers have shown that the isomorphous incorporation of Al into the MFI structure (silicalite → ZSM-5) results in an increase of the non-selective intercrystalline transport and – as a consequence – the separation selectivity drops. In accordance with this observation, no shape-selective gas separation is reported for the Al-rich zeolite membranes MOR, FAU and LTA. On the other hand, these membranes allow the highly selective separation of water from organic mixtures due to hydrophilic interactions. In the present paper the change of the unit cell dimension (UCD) for zeolites LTA, FAU, MOR and MFI was studied as a function of temperature and water content using Rietveld refinement. Parallel to the determination of the linear and volume expansion coefficients by in situ-heating XRD, the de-watering and de-templating was studied by thermogravimetry (TGA). A strong UCD-change was found for all Al-rich zeolite types as a result of the de-watering. In contrast, the smallest changes of the UCD in the temperature range 50–450°C were found for MFI crystals. Nevertheless, also for MFI membrane layers with rising temperature an increasing tension between the expanding α-Al2O3 support and the slightly shrinking membrane layer takes place. Zeolite layers of small crystals with either a random or a preferential crystal orientation relative to the support and an only partial de-watering in the case of Al-rich zeolite layers can minimize the tension in the support-membrane system. Thus, the irreversible formation of macroscopic cracks can be avoided and the formation of small intercrystalline pores in the mesopore region becomes reversible. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect of a new anti-glaucoma drug, the Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, HA-1077, in a rabbit ocular hypertension model. Methods: Experiments were carried out in 18 male New Zealand white rabbits, with ocular hypertension induced by water loading. Animals were divided into three groups followed by topical administration of 1 mM, 2 mM, and 3 mM HA-1077 in the left eye. As a control, phosphate buffered saline was administered in the opposite eye. Results: After administration of HA-1077 eye drops, there was a significant time- and dose-dependent decrease of the IOP. While minor conjunctival injection was seen in a few cases, no abnormalities of the anterior chamber or fundus were observed. Conclusions: This is the first report of the effect of the ROCK inhibitor, HA-1077, on the IOP in an ocular hypertension model. Study results indicated that HA-1077 has a strong IOP-lowering effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Hyaluronan (HA) is involved in renomedullary water handling through its water-binding capacity. This study addressed the effect of hormones involved in regulating fluid-electrolyte homeostasis on renomedullary HA content in vivo and in vitro. Methods: The kidneys from rats treated withl-NAME, indomethacin, vasopressin (AVP) or methylprednisolone (MP) during euvolaemia or water loading were analysed for HA by RIA, ELISA and histochemical staining. HA was measured in renomedullary interstitial cells treated with AVP, angiotensin II (Ang II) or a combination of AVP and Ang II. Results: Baseline renal cortical and medullary HA content was unaffected by 2 h of intravenous treatment withl-NAME (NOS inhibitor) or indomethacin (cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor), whereas AVP reduced medullary HA by 33%. During 2 h of acute water loading, diuresis was accompanied by an increase in renomedullary HA (+45%), but cortical HA was unaffected. In bothl-NAME- and indomethacin-treated animals, the water loading-induced increase in renomedullary HA was absent, indicating involvement of NO and prostaglandins. After 7 days of MP treatment, medullary HA was reduced by 40%, but the water loading-induced elevation in HA remained. In cultured renomedullary interstitial cells, AVP reduced the HA content in the supernatant by 63%, and simultaneous treatment with Ang II reduced the HA content even further (95%). Conclusion: AVP reduces HA content, and NO and prostaglandins are needed for the increase in HA during water loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last century geological studies of the ancestral Great Lakes have confirmed that the large surface load of the Laurentide ice sheet deformed the region causing tilting of ancient lake shorelines. Models of this glacial isostatic adjustment mechanism have promoted understanding of this process but have only included ice sheet loads as the source of earth deformation in the region. We describe a method, utilizing a model of glacial isostatic adjustment combined with GIS, that recreates the paleohydrology of the Great Lakes. Predictions include the extent of late glacial, postglacial, and Holocene lakes and their associated outlets and bathymetries. This predicted history of the Great Lakes is similar to that obtained from a century of detailed field studies but our method uses only the present digital elevation model, a prescribed ice sheet chronology, and an assumed earth viscoelastic rheology. Ancient lake bathymetry predictions provide an estimate of water loads associated with each lake. The effect of these lake loads upon vertical deformation of the Great Lakes region is shown to be small, less than 15 m, but not insignificant when compared to approximately 150 m of deformation forced by ice and ocean loads. Maximum lake-induced deformation is centered upon Lake Superior where water depths were greatest. Where topography is low relief prediction of shoreline locations should include the lake loading effect as well as the ice and ocean loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the HARD project of GPS monitoring of vertical ground motion in NE Ardenne and Eifel (western Europe). Its main purposes are to get a better insight into the present-day rates of vertical ground motion in intraplate settings and to identify the various causes of these motions. Since 1999, we have carried out yearly campaigns of simultaneous GPS measurements at 12 sites situated so as to sample the different tectonic subunits of the study area and especially to record potential displacements across the seismogenic Hockai fault zone. Five campaigns (1999–2003) have been processed currently. Key issues of the data processing with the Gamit software are discussed and first results are presented. Though temporally consistent in many cases, the obtained vertical motion rates are spatially highly variable. They are also much too high (several mm/year) to support a tectonic interpretation, and a long-term influence of groundwater level variations is proposed to account for the observed motions. This influence should be distinguished from seasonal variations and from inter-survey variations linked to the varying degree of soil and subsoil drying off during the successive spring surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslides have caused extensive infrastructure damage and caused human fatalities for centuries. Intense precipitation and large earthquakes are considered to be two major landslide triggers, particularly in the case of catastrophic landslides. The most widely accepted mechanistic explanation for landslides is the effective-stress dependent shear strength reduction due to increases in pore water pressure. The Chashan landslide site, selected for the present study, has been intensively studied from geological, geophysical, geodetic, geotechnical, hydrological, and seismological perspectives. Our seismic monitoring of daily relative velocity changes (dv/v) indicated that landslide material decreases coincided with the first half of the rainy period and increased during the latter half of the rainy period. The geodetic surveys before and after the rainy period identified vertical subsidence without horizontal movement. The results from the multidisciplinary investigation enabled us to draw a conceptual model of the landslide recovery process induced by water loading. Where all sliding materials were stable (safety factor > 1.0), unconsolidated landslide colluvium and impermeable sliding surfaces trapped the seepage water to form a water tank, provided that compact forces were acting on the materials below the sliding boundary. The vertical force of compaction facilitates an increase in the cohesion and strength of landslide materials, thereby increasing the landslide materials' stability. We demonstrated that the recovery process periodically occurs only under the combined conditions of prolonged and intense precipitation and the related stability conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antinatriuretic effect of angiotensin II (Ang II) is generally attributed to a decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and an increased proximal tubular sodium reabsorption. We studied this by infusion of increasing amounts (1, 4, and 8 pmol/kg per min) of Ang II in seven water-loaded volunteers who were pretreated with enalapril and a high-salt diet. While mean arterial pressure increased from 92±3mmHg to respectively 98±3, 110±2, and 116±2mmHg, sodium excretion fell from 331±40 to 135±23, 65±17, and 63±22 μmol/min, and GFR from 138±9 to 128±6, 111±6, and 104±8 ml/min (<0.05 for each variable). At 1 pmol/kg per min, Ang II decreased maximal urine flow and the fractional excretions of lithium and uric acid. Urine sodium concentration decreased, whereas minimal urine osmolality remained unchanged. At 4 pmol/kgper min, these effects were more pronounced. Moreover, minimal urine osmolality increased from 58±4 to 72±8 mosm/kg, but sodium concentration decreased further. The step to 8 pmol/kg per min did not decrease sodium, lithium, or uric acid excretion further, but induced a further increase in minimal urine osmolality to 99±16 mosm/kg. These data suggest that the antinatriuretic effect of modestly hypertensive dosages of Ang II is not only due to a decrease in GFR and an increase in proximal sodium reabsorption, but also involves a rise in fractional reabsorption in a distal nephron segment. In addition Ang II decreases renal diluting capacity. Whether these effects on the distal nephron concern a direct Ang II–tubule interaction or are mediated indirectly remains to be clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]