The concentration of salts in the vesiculated hairs of Atriplex halimus L. was measured and was remarkably higher than that of the leaf sap and xylem exudate. In spite of their unusually high salt content, these hairs when immersed seemed unable to absorb water, in apparent contradiction to the previously held hypothesis that vesiculated hairs make it possible for such plants to absorb water fr...

This study investigated the effect of Cloisite15A (C15A) organoclay in the substrate layer on the performance of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. The substrate of the RO membranes was modified using different loading of C15A (ranging from 0.3 - 0.7 wt%) within polysulfone (PSf) substrate and the polyamide (PA) selective layer was formed on the top. Effect of the modified substrate layer on the w...

Sodium (Na) constitutes about2.8percent of the earth's crust, in similar proportion to potassium (K) at 2.6 percent. Both elements are chemically similar and exist in soils as monovalent cations (they have a single positive charge). As such, they are bound to cation exchange sites on soil colloids. However, positive sodium ions (Na) attract a larger shell of hydration water than does positive p...

This review deals with the adaptive mechanisms that plants can implement to cope with the challenge of salt stress. Plants tolerant to NaCl implement a series of adaptations to acclimate to salinity, including morphological, physiological and biochemical changes. These changes include increases in the root/canopy ratio and in the chlorophyll content in addition to changes in the leaf anatomy th...

We demonstrate here that acute third ventricle injections of GR 113808, a highly selective 5-HT4 antagonist, decrease water intake induced by a previous salt load while potentiating drinking elicited by hypovolemia induced by previous subcutaneous administration of polyethylene glycol in male Wistar rats (200 +/- 20 g). At the dose of 160 nmol/rat, third ventricle injections of GR 113808 induce...

It is well-known that evaporation of sessile drops with suspended particles like colloids and coffee powders can yield a variety of two-dimensional patterns depending on the particle shapes and internal flow patterns. Here we show that ordered three-dimensional structures can be built via evaporation of saline drops on highly hydrophobic substrates like pristine PP (polypropylene) with micropor...

Introduction: Salt water near-drowning events are not uncommon in coastal regions. The difference in tonicity between salt and fresh water in near-drowning events leads many to believe there should be differences in the approach to managing the patient. We present a case of near-drowning in salt water and a thorough review of the literature in managing these patients. Case Presentation: A sixte...

After surgical removal of all salivary secretions ("desalivation"), rats increase their consumption of water while eating dry laboratory chow. In the present experiments, desalivated rats drank even more water while they ate "powdered" high-salt food (i.e., <15-mg food particles). The Na+ concentration of systemic plasma in these animals was not elevated during or immediately after the meal, wh...

Betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT) is the only enzyme known to catabolize betaine. In addition to being a substrate for BHMT, betaine also functions as an osmoprotectant that accumulates in the kidney medulla under conditions of high extracellular osmolarity. The mechanisms that regulate the partitioning of betaine between its use as a methyl donor and its accumulation as an osmopr...