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Effects of pressure-demand respirator wear on physiological and perceptual variables during progressive exercise to maximal levels.

Current regulations governing the certification of respiratory protective devices are based on data published in the early 1950s. The limited data base of this early work and documented increases in the average height of the population underscore the need for additional information concerning the parameters of certification. In the present study, a protocol using an inclined treadmill (0.5% grade every 12 sec) was used to test a heterogeneous population (n = 38). Through submaximal up to and including maximal exercise levels with and without respirator wear, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was significantly greater (p less than 0.01) with the respirator (44.11 +/- 1.3 mL/kg.min) than without the respirator (42.18 +/- 1.4 mL/kg.min) while maximal ventilation volumes (VEmax) were not significantly different (with = 118.7 +/- 4 L/min; without 119.6 +/- 5 L/min). While peak inspired flows (PFI) with the respirator (268 +/- 7 L/min) were less than without the respirator (281 +/- 9 L/min), p greater than 0.05, the lower peak expired flow (PFE) with the respirator (289 +/- 12 L/min) than without the respirator (324 +/- 13 L/min), p less than 0.01, indicated a significant blunting effect of the respiratory flows by the expired resistance during exercise to maximal levels. Peak inspired pressures (PPi) with and without the respirator were not significantly different (p greater than 0.05). The negative values obtained within the facepiece of the respirator (-7.65 +/- 0.8 cmH2O), however, indicate that the positive pressure within the facepiece was lost, and respiratory protection may be compromised. Peak expired pressure with the respirator (13.05 +/- 0.7 cmH2O) was significantly greater than without the respirator (10.7 +/- 0.5 cmH2O) indicating that, despite a lower PFE, greater force was required to overcome the resistances of the respirator on expiration. The dyspnea index, an index of physiological effort; suggests that the subjects were working at a higher percentage of their respiratory reserve with the respirator (p less than 0.05) than without. Perceptually, subjects also felt that breathing with the respirator was more difficult (p less than 0.05). The maximum heart rate and the ratings of perceived exertion were not significantly different between the two tests at maximal exercise levels. Maximum oxygen uptake was considered reached when subjects attained a respiratory exchange ratio of at least 1.15, when a heart rate response at or greater than age-predicted maximum was achieved, when ratings of perceived exertion indicated exhaustion, and/or when the measure of VO2 had plateaued during the final minute of exercise.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Equipment Design↗

Effect of nitrogen on the seasonal course of growth and maintenance respiration in stems of Norway spruce trees.

To determine effects of stem nitrogen concentration ([N]) on the seasonal course of respiration, rates of stem respiration of ten control and ten irrigated-fertilized (IL), 30-year-old Norway spruce trees (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), growing in northern Sweden, were measured on seven occasions from June 1993 to April 1994. To explore sources of seasonal variation and mechanisms of fertilization effects on respiration, we separated total respiration into growth and maintenance respiration for both xylem and phloem bark. Stem respiration increased in response to the IL treatment and was positively correlated with growth rate, volume of living cells and stem nitrogen content. However, no significant effect of IL treatment or [N] in the living cells was found for respiration per unit volume of live cells. Total stem respiration during the growing season (June to September) was estimated to be 16.7 and 29.7 mol CO(2) m(-2) for control and IL-treated trees, respectively. Respiration during the growing season accounted for approximately 64% of total annual respiration. Depending on the method, estimated growth respiration varied between 40 and 60% of total respiration during the growing season. Between 75 and 80% of the live cell volume in the stems was in the phloem, and phloem maintenance accounted for about 70% of maintenance respiration. Because most of the living cells were found in the phloem, and the living xylem cells were concentrated in the outer growth rings, we concluded that the best base for expressing rates of stem growth and maintenance respiration in young Norway spruce trees is stem surface area.

Journal Article↗

Forest thinning and soil respiration in a ponderosa pine plantation in the Sierra Nevada.

Soil respiration is controlled by soil temperature, soil water, fine roots, microbial activity, and soil physical and chemical properties. Forest thinning changes soil temperature, soil water content, and root density and activity, and thus changes soil respiration. We measured soil respiration monthly and soil temperature and volumetric soil water continuously in a young ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex P. Laws. & C. Laws.) plantation in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California from June 1998 to May 2000 (before a thinning that removed 30% of the biomass), and from May to December 2001 (after thinning). Thinning increased the spatial homogeneity of soil temperature and respiration. We conducted a multivariate analysis with two independent variables of soil temperature and water and a categorical variable representing the thinning event to simulate soil respiration and assess the effect of thinning. Thinning did not change the sensitivity of soil respiration to temperature or to water, but decreased total soil respiration by 13% at a given temperature and water content. This decrease in soil respiration was likely associated with the decrease in root density after thinning. With a model driven by continuous soil temperature and water time series, we estimated that total soil respiration was 948, 949 and 831 g C m(-2) year(-1) in the years 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively. Although thinning reduced soil respiration at a given temperature and water content, because of natural climate variability and the thinning effect on soil temperature and water, actual cumulative soil respiration showed no clear trend following thinning. We conclude that the effect of forest thinning on soil respiration is the combined result of a decrease in root respiration, an increase in soil organic matter, and changes in soil temperature and water due to both thinning and interannual climate variability.

California↗

Forest soil respiration rate and delta13C is regulated by recent above ground weather conditions.

Soil respiration, a key component of the global carbon cycle, is a major source of uncertainty when estimating terrestrial carbon budgets at ecosystem and higher levels. Rates of soil and root respiration are assumed to be dependent on soil temperature and soil moisture yet these factors often barely explain half the seasonal variation in soil respiration. We here found that soil moisture (range 16.5-27.6% of dry weight) and soil temperature (range 8-17.5 degrees C) together explained 55% of the variance (cross-validated explained variance; Q2) in soil respiration rate (range 1.0-3.4 micromol C m(-2) s(-1)) in a Norway spruce (Picea abies) forest. We hypothesised that this was due to that the two components of soil respiration, root respiration and decomposition, are governed by different factors. We therefore applied PLS (partial least squares regression) multivariate modelling in which we, together with below ground temperature and soil moisture, used the recent above ground air temperature and air humidity (vapour pressure deficit, VPD) conditions as x-variables. We found that air temperature and VPD data collected 1-4 days before respiration measurements explained 86% of the seasonal variation in the rate of soil respiration. The addition of soil moisture and soil temperature to the PLS-models increased the Q2 to 93%. delta13C analysis of soil respiration supported the hypotheses that there was a fast flux of photosynthates to root respiration and a dependence on recent above ground weather conditions. Taken together, our results suggest that shoot activities the preceding 1-6 days influence, to a large degree, the rate of root and soil respiration. We propose this above ground influence on soil respiration to be proportionally largest in the middle of the growing season and in situations when there is large day-to-day shifts in the above ground weather conditions. During such conditions soil temperature may not exert the major control on root respiration.

Betula↗

A survey of private sector respirator use in the United States: an overview of findings.

Limitations of previous surveys of respirator use led the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to undertake a survey of respirator use and practices among U.S. private sector employers. The survey was mailed to 40,002 private sector establishments in August 2001; the responses were used to develop national estimates. Respirator use was required in 4.5% of establishments and for 3.1% of employees. Of the establishments requiring respirator use, 95% used air-purifying respirators and 17% used air-supplied respirators. Manufacturing; mining (including oil and gas extraction); construction; and agriculture, forestry, and fishing had the highest rates of establishment respirator use. Respirators were used most frequently to protect against dust/mist, paint vapors, and solvents. Large percentages of establishments requiring respirator use had indicators of potentially inadequate respirator programs. Of establishments requiring respirator use, 91% had at least one indicator of a potentially inadequate respiratory protection program, while 54% had at least five indicators. The survey findings suggest that large numbers of employers may not follow NIOSH recommendations and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requirements for the selection and use of respirators, potentially putting workers at risk. The findings will aid efforts to increase the appropriate use of respirators in the workplace.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗

Effect of different daytime and night-time temperature regimes on the foliar respiration of Pinus taeda: predicting the effect of variable temperature on acclimation.

The objectives of this study were to determine the acclimation of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) foliar respiration to different night-time low temperatures, daytime high temperatures, and daily mean temperatures, and then to use the responses of temperature acclimation to various temperature regimes to predict acclimation under fluctuating temperatures. Experiments were conducted on two-year-old seedlings in growth chambers using different combinations of day and night-time temperatures. The first experiment exposed trees to 22/22, 29/22, 22/15, and 29/15 degrees C day/night (d/n). When measured at a common temperature (15, 22 or 29 degrees C), respiration rates were lower for trees exposed to higher treatment temperatures and acclimation was influenced by both day and night-time temperature. However, the extent of acclimation did not relate to mean temperature, i.e. respiration rates measured at a common temperature ranked as follows for seedlings exposed to different temperature regimes, 22/15>22/22>29/15 congruent with29/22 degrees C d/n. Rather, acclimation of foliar respiration was linearly related to mean daily respiration rate, where mean daily respiration rate is the average of the respiration rates measured at the day and night-time treatment temperatures. The discrepancy between mean daily respiration rate and mean daily temperature occurred because respiration increased exponentially with increasing temperature. In a second experiment, the same seedlings were exposed to 22/22, 15/15, 25.5/18.5, and 25.5/15 degrees C d/n to test the relationship between mean daily respiration rate and acclimation. As in the first experiment, acclimation was linearly related to mean daily respiration rate. The concept of effective acclimation temperature, which is the temperature at which the mean daily respiration rate occurs, was derived from these results as a means to predict the extent that foliar respiration acclimates to treatment temperature.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Stem maintenance and construction respiration in Pinus ponderosa grown in different concentrations of atmospheric CO(2).

To determine whether long-term growth in enriched CO(2) atmospheres changes the woody tissue respiration component of aboveground carbon budgets, we measured woody tissue respiration of stems of 3-year-old ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws.) grown in ambient (350 ppm) or twice ambient (700 ppm) atmospheric CO(2) concentrations in open-top field chambers located in Placerville, CA. Total respiration rate was measured by gas exchange, and construction respiration was calculated from the construction cost, percent carbon of stem samples and relative growth rate. Maintenance respiration was determined as the difference between total and construction respiration. The Q(10) of respiration was greater in stems grown in elevated CO(2) than in stems grown in ambient CO(2) (2.20 versus 1.67). As a result, mean daily respiration per unit volume of wood modeled for the month of September was greater in trees growing in elevated CO(2) than in ambient CO(2) (46.75 versus 40.45 mol m(-3) day(-1)). These effects of atmospheric CO(2) concentration were not the result of differences in relative growth rate. Calorimetric analyses of woody tissue construction cost indicated no difference between treatments; however, trees in the elevated CO(2) treatment showed a 1% lower carbon concentration than trees in the ambient CO(2) treatment. Estimates of construction respiration did not differ between treatments, confirming that the treatment differences in mean daily respiration rate were attributable to the maintenance component. Under future predicted atmospheric conditions, changes in the maintenance respiration of woody tissue may lead to an increase in the respiration component of whole-plant carbon budgets of ponderosa pine. Our results suggest that potential increases in the maintenance component of stem respiration should be considered when modeling the response of forest stand growth to enriched CO(2) atmospheres.

Journal Article↗

Effect of measurement CO(2) concentration on sugar maple root respiration.

Accurate estimates of root respiration are crucial to predicting belowground C cycling in forest ecosystems. Inhibition of respiration has been reported as a short-term response of plant tissue to elevated measurement [CO(2)]. We sought to determine if measurement [CO(2)] affected root respiration in samples from mature sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) forests and to assess possible errors associated with root respiration measurements made at [CO(2)]s lower than that typical of the soil atmosphere. Root respiration was measured as both CO(2) production and O(2) consumption on excised fine roots (</= 1.0 mm) at [CO(2)]s ranging from 350 to > 20,000 micro l l(-1). Root respiration was significantly affected by the [CO(2)] at which measurements were made for both CO(2) production and O(2) consumption. Root respiration was most sensitive to [CO(2)] near and below normal soil concentrations (< 1500 micro l l(-1)). Respiration rates changed little at [CO(2)]s above 3000 micro l l(-1) and were essentially constant above 6000 micro l l(-1) CO(2). These findings call into question estimates of root respiration made at or near atmospheric [CO(2)], suggesting that they overestimate actual rates in the soil. Our results indicate that sugar maple root respiration at atmospheric [CO(2)] (350 micro l l(-1)) is about 139% of that at soil [CO(2)]. Although the causal mechanism remains unknown, the increase in root respiration at low measurement [CO(2)] is significant and should be accounted for when estimating or modeling root respiration. Until the direct effect of [CO(2)] on root respiration is fully understood, we recommend making measurements at a [CO(2)] representative of, or higher than, soil [CO(2)]. In all cases, the [CO(2)] at which measurements are made and the [CO(2)] typical of the soil atmosphere should be reported.

Journal Article↗

Agonal respirations during cardiac arrest.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review examines the physiologic understanding and clinical implications of agonal respirations during cardiac arrest. RECENT FINDINGS: Agonal respirations originate from lower brainstem neurons as higher centers become increasingly hypoxic during cardiac arrest. No single layperson descriptor consistently identifies agonal respirations; rather, laypersons use a collection of terms to describe the abnormal breathing of agonal respirations. Animal studies demonstrate that agonal respirations can produce clinically important ventilation, oxygenation, and circulation. In human studies, agonal respirations are apparent in 40% of persons suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Agonal respirations are associated with witnessed events, ventricular fibrillation, and survival, suggesting that agonal respirations are a marker of an arrest's early phase and may potentially directly affect cardiopulmonary function. Although agonal respirations appear to exert favorable cardiopulmonary effects, they may paradoxically inhibit rescue efforts by preventing arrest recognition. A standardized dispatch approach can help dispatchers identify agonal respirations by distinguishing normal and abnormal breathing in the unconscious patient. Future study should consider how information about agonal respirations might be integrated into the resuscitation to optimize outcomes. SUMMARY: Agonal respirations have physiologic and care implications. Efforts to identify agonal respirations and integrate this information into resuscitation care may improve outcome from cardiac arrest.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation↗

Soil respiration in northern forests exposed to elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and ozone.

The aspen free-air CO2 and O3 enrichment (FACTS II-FACE) study in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, USA, is designed to understand the mechanisms by which young northern deciduous forest ecosystems respond to elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and elevated tropospheric ozone (O3) in a replicated, factorial, field experiment. Soil respiration is the second largest flux of carbon (C) in these ecosystems, and the objective of this study was to understand how soil respiration responded to the experimental treatments as these fast-growing stands of pure aspen and birch + aspen approached maximum leaf area. Rates of soil respiration were typically lowest in the elevated O3 treatment. Elevated CO2 significantly stimulated soil respiration (8-26%) compared to the control treatment in both community types over all three growing seasons. In years 6-7 of the experiment, the greatest rates of soil respiration occurred in the interaction treatment (CO2 + O3), and rates of soil respiration were 15-25% greater in this treatment than in the elevated CO2 treatment, depending on year and community type. Two of the treatments, elevated CO2 and elevated CO2 + O3, were fumigated with 13C-depleted CO2, and in these two treatments we used standard isotope mixing models to understand the proportions of new and old C in soil respiration. During the peak of the growing season, C fixed since the initiation of the experiment in 1998 (new C) accounted for 60-80% of total soil respiration. The isotope measurements independently confirmed that more new C was respired from the interaction treatment compared to the elevated CO2 treatment. A period of low soil moisture late in the 2003 growing season resulted in soil respiration with an isotopic signature 4-6 per thousand enriched in 13C compared to sample dates when the percentage soil moisture was higher. In 2004, an extended period of low soil moisture during August and early September, punctuated by a significant rainfall event, resulted in soil respiration that was temporarily 4-6 per thousand more depleted in 13C. Up to 50% of the Earth's forests will see elevated concentrations of both CO2 and O3 in the coming decades and these interacting atmospheric trace gases stimulated soil respiration in this study.

Acer↗

The physiological cost of wearing a disposable respirator.

In order to gain an understanding of the physiological stresses imposed by the wearing of a single-use disposable respirator, a series of experiments was done to measure the cardiopulmonary effects of wearing the respirator (heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure); resistance to breathing while wearing a respirator; and heat stress imposed by the use of a respirator (changes in inspired and expired air temperature). Ten men, ages 24 to 35, of varying fitness levels, served as volunteers in the studies. All the men exercised on a treadmill both with and without 3M Model 8715 disposable respirators. Workloads corresponding to light, moderate, and heavy levels were calculated for each volunteer based on his maximal oxygen uptake. As work intensity increased, an increase in breathing resistance was found. Peak resistances were in the range of +/- 2 cm water. Work-intensity level increases in respiratory rates were found with and without the respirators, but the respirator use trial had a significantly increased respiratory rate. Heart rate also showed a dose-related increase as work intensity increased and was significantly greater in the respirator trials at heavy levels of work and during recovery. Systolic blood pressure showed a biphasic response to respirator use, being significantly lower at rest and higher at high levels of work. Diastolic blood pressure changes were less dramatic but were elevated in the respirator trials. Clinically important increases in blood pressure were found in two volunteers when respirators were worn. Air temperatures immediately anterior to the face were, on average, 7.5 degrees C higher in the respirator trials.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Coarse and fine root respiration in aspen (Populus tremuloides).

Coarse and fine root respiration rates of aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) were measured at 5, 15 and 25 degrees C. Coarse roots ranged from 0.65 to 4.45 cm in diameter, whereas fine roots were less than 5 mm in diameter. To discriminate between maintenance and growth respiration, root respiration rates were measured during aboveground growing periods and dormant periods. An additional measurement of coarse root respiration was made during spring leaf flush, to evaluate the effect of mobilization of resources for leaf expansion on root respiration. Fine roots respired at much higher rates than coarse roots, with a mean rate at 15 degrees C of 1290 micromol CO2 m-3 s-1 during the growing period, and 660 micromol CO2 m-3 s-1 during the dormant period. The temperature response of fine root respiration rate was nonlinear: mean Q10 was 3.90 for measurements made at 5-15 degrees C and 2.19 for measurements made at 15-25 degrees C. Coarse root respiration rates measured at 15 degrees C in late fall (dormant season) were higher (370 micromol CO2 m-3 s-1) than rates from roots collected at leaf flush and early summer (200 micromol CO2 m-3 s-1). The higher respiration rates in late fall, which were accompanied by decreased total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) concentrations, suggest that respiration rates in late fall included growth expenditures, reflecting recent radial growth. Neither bud flush nor shoot growth of the trees caused an increase in coarse root respiration or a decrease in TNC concentrations, suggesting a limited role of coarse roots as reserve storage organs for spring shoot growth, and a lack of synchronization between above- and belowground growth. Pooling the data from the coarse and fine roots showed a positive correlation between nitrogen concentration and respiration rate.

Cell Respiration↗

Field measurements of root respiration indicate little to no seasonal temperature acclimation for sugar maple and red pine.

Increasing global temperatures could potentially cause large increases in root respiration and associated soil CO2 efflux. However, if root respiration acclimates to higher temperatures, increases in soil CO2 efflux from this source would be much less. Throughout the snow-free season, we measured fine root respiration in the field at ambient soil temperature in a sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) forest and a red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) plantation in Michigan. The objectives were to determine effects of soil temperature, soil water availability and experimental N additions on root respiration rates, and to test for temperature acclimation in response to seasonal changes in soil temperature. Soil temperature and soil water availability were important predictors of root respiration and together explained 76% of the variation in root respiration rates in the red pine plantation and 71% of the variation in the sugar maple forest. Root N concentration explained an additional 6% of the variation in the sugar maple trees. Experimental N additions did not affect root respiration rates at either site. From April to November, root respiration rates measured in the field increased exponentially with increasing soil temperature. For sugar maple, long-term Q10 values calculated from the field data were slightly, but not significantly, less than short-term Q10 values determined for instantaneous temperature series conducted in the laboratory (2.4 versus 2.62.7). For red pine, long-term and short-term Q10 values were similar (3.0 versus 3.0). Sugar maple root respiration rates at constant reference temperatures of 6, 18 and 24 degrees C were measured in the laboratory at various times during the year when field soil temperatures varied from 0.4 to 16.8 degrees C. No relationship existed between ambient soil temperature just before sampling and root respiration rates at 6 and 18 degrees C (P = 0.37 and 0.86, respectively), and only a very weak relationship was found between ambient soil temperature and root respiration at 24 degrees C (P = 0.08, slope = 0.09). We conclude that root respiration in these species undergoes little, if any, acclimation to seasonal changes in soil temperature.

Acclimatization↗

[The effect of Cd2+ on the respiration and swelling of isolated rat liver mitochondria in incubation media of different compositions].

We studied a change in Cd2+ influence on state 4 and 3 respiration and on 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP)-stimulated respiration of isolated rat liver mitochondria, after replacement of KCl for equimolar quantities of NaCl, LiCl or for 200 mM sucrose in the incubation medium. Cd2+ concentrations higher than 2.5 microM reduced state 3 respiration or DNP-stimulated one in KCl medium (control), and activated state 4 respiration, however, at Cd2+ concentrations higher than 12.5 microM the respiratory activation became short-term with a following reduction in respiration. Cd2+ influence on respiration of mitochondria increased in the medium with NaCl, which resulted in decreasing the acting Cd2+ concentrations and in activating state 4 respiration more intensely. Cd2+ did not modify respiration of mitochondria in the experiments with LiCl in the medium, except that Cd2+ in concentrations higher than 10 microM decreased the state 4 respiration mitochondria just as in NaCl experiments. On the contrary, Cd2+ influence on respiration of mitochondria was seen decreased in the medium with sucrose. This was displayed in the increase in Cd2+ acting concentrations and in the decrease in activation of state 4 respiration mitochondria, and is associated with the nonosmotic character of these effects. On 20 microM Cd2+ concentration only, an extensive swelling of nonenergized mitochondria was observed in 12.5 mM nitrate media and its increase in series of Li < Na < K < NH4. The initially low swelling of succinate energized mitochondria in KCl medium was increased at raising Cd2+ concentration in this medium. A non-uniform Cd2+ influence on respiration and mitochondrial swelling in the above incubated media may be firstly associated with different effects of K+, Na+, Li+ and sucrose on membrane ion permeability and on Cd+ binding with the membrane, and, secondly, correlated with the action of medium components on energy dependent Cd2+ uptake by mitochondria and on Cd2+ penetration to mitochondrial respiratory enzymes.

2,4-Dinitrophenol↗

Control of brain slice respiration by (Na+ + K+)-activated adenosine triphosphate and the effects of enzyme inhibitors.

The involvement of membrane (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (Mg2+-dependent, (Na+ + K+)-activated ATP phosphohydrolase, E.C. 3.6.1.3) in the oxygen consumption of rat brain cortical slices was studied in order to determine whether (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity in intact cells can be estimated from oxygen consumption. The stimulation of brain slice respiration with K+ required the simultaneous presence of Na+. Ouabain, a specific inhibitor of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, significantly inhibited the (Na+ + K+)-stimulation of respiration. These observations suggest that the (Na+ + K+)-stimulation of brain slice respiration is related to ADP production as a result of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. However, ouabain also inhibited non-K+ -stimulated respiration. Additionally, ouabain markedly reduced the stimulation of respiration by 2,4-dinitrophenol in a high (Na+ + K+)-medium. Thus, ouabain depresses brain slice respiration by reducing the availability of ADP through (Na+ + K+)-ATPase inhibition and acts additionally by increasing the intracellular Na+ concentration. These studies indicate that the use of ouabain results in an over-estimation of the respiration related to (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. This fraction of the respiration can be estimated more precisely from the difference between slice respiration in high Na+ and K+ media and that in choline, K+ media. Studies were performed with two (Na+ + K+)-ATPase inhibitors to determine whether administration of these agents to intact rats would produce changes in brain respiration and (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. The intraperitoneal injection of digitoxin in rats caused an inhibition of brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and related respiration, but chlorpromazine failed to alter either (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity or related respiration.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Evaluation of air-purifying respirators for protection against toluene diisocyanate vapors.

Two brands of air-purifying organic vapor cartridges (Willson and Survivair) and a disposable respirator (3M) were evaluated for protection against toluene diisocyanate (TDI) vapors. The respirators/cartridges were tested by generating dynamic atmospheres of TDI at concentrations of 0.2 and 1.5 ppm or greater, which are substantially above the currently accepted exposure limits. The TDI atmospheres were generated by controlled and continuous evaporation and dilution techniques. The relative humidity of the final TDI atmosphere was maintained at 50%. For the testing of Survivair and Willson respirators, one cartridge was mounted on a stainless steel plate and placed inside an exposure chamber through which air was drawn unidirectionally at 32 L/min. Periodically, the air before and after the cartridge was monitored for TDI. In the case of the disposable, valveless 3M respirator, a breathing pump was used to simulate the breathing through the respirator. The TDI atmosphere was respired through the respirator at 28.8 L/min (24 cycles/min at 1.2 L/cycle). As before, the concentration of TDI was measured periodically before and after the respirator. There was no significant breakthrough (less than 0.5%) of TDI in any of the respirators tested for 40 hr at 0.2 ppm and for 20 hr at 1.5 ppm or higher concentration of TDI. The detection limits of the post-respirator TDI measurements ranged from 0.4 to 0.02% of the pre-respirator concentration. It is important to note that, at the present time, because the odor threshold for TDI is higher than the ceiling exposure limit (poor warning property), NIOSH and most of the respirator manufacturers do not recommend the use of air-purifying respirators in isocyanate containing environments.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

A comparison of the effects of carbon dioxide concentration and temperature on respiration, translocation and nitrate reduction in darkened soybean leaves.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Respiration of autotrophs is an important component of their carbon balance as well as the global carbon dioxide budget. How autotrophic respiration may respond to increasing carbon dioxide concentrations, [CO(2)], in the atmosphere remains uncertain. The existence of short-term responses of respiration rates of plant leaves to [CO(2)] is controversial. Short-term responses of respiration to temperature are not disputed. This work compared responses of dark respiration and two processes dependent on the energy and reductant supplied by dark respiration, translocation and nitrate reduction, to changes in [CO(2)] and temperature. METHODS: Mature soybean leaves were exposed for a single 8-h dark period to one of five combinations of air temperature and [CO(2)], and rates of respiration, translocation and nitrate reduction were determined for each treatment. KEY RESULTS: Low temperature and elevated [CO(2)] reduced rates of respiration, translocation and nitrate reduction, while increased temperature and low [CO(2)] increased rates of all three processes. A given change in the rate of respiration was accompanied by the same change in the rate of translocation or nitrate reduction, regardless of whether the altered respiration was caused by a change in temperature or by a change in [CO(2)]. CONCLUSIONS: These results make it highly unlikely that the observed responses of respiration rate to [CO(2)] were artefacts due to errors in the measurement of carbon dioxide exchange rates in this case, and indicate that elevated [CO(2)] at night can affect translocation and nitrate reduction through its effect on respiration.

Carbon Dioxide↗

Dependence of the aboveground respiration of hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) on tree size.

Nighttime respiration was measured at monthly intervals over one year on the aboveground parts of five sample trees in an 8-year-old hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa (Sieb. et Zucc.) Endl.) stand, by an enclosed standing-tree method. The respiration rate rose rapidly from early spring to a maximum in June, and decreased abruptly in July and then gradually toward autumn and winter. The seasonal change in the respiration rate was synchronized with stem volume increment rather than with monthly mean air temperature. The respiration rate, r, of individual trees increased with increasing tree dimensions, such as stem volume, v(S), and stem girth at the base of the live crown, G(B). The dependence of respiration rate on tree size was successfully represented by a power function. The r - v(S) dependence was rather stronger than the r - G(B) (2) dependence, especially toward the end of the growing season (from July to September). The observed respiration rate was almost the same as the respiration rate corrected for the monthly mean air temperature. The annual respiration of individual trees was directly proportional to their phytomass or to its increment. Although the annual respiration of individual trees decreased proportionally to the square root of the leaf mass, it decreased abruptly in the range close to the smallest sample tree. Combining the monthly relationship between respiration rate and stem volume with the tree size distribution in the stand, the stand aboveground annual respiration was estimated to be 20.4 Mg CO(2) ha(-1) year(-1) (= 12.5 Mg dry mass ha(-1) year(-1)) for an aboveground biomass of 17.4 Mg ha(-1) with an annual increment of 6.51 Mg ha(-1) year(-1), i.e., the stand aboveground annual respiration amounted to the equivalent of 72% of the biomass or to almost twice the biomass increment.

Journal Article↗