Blends of chitosan and biodegradable synthetic aliphatic polyesters (polycaprolactone, poly(butylene succinate), poly[(butylene succinate)-co-adipate], poly[(butylene terephthalate)-co-adipate], and poly(lactic acid)) were injection-molded. These samples were immersed in isotonic solution at 37 degrees C for a period of 60 d. The water uptake and the degradation properties, as measured by the l...

1. The routine oxygen consumption by Periophthalmus cantonensis and Boleophthalmus chinensis in water increased geometrically, whereas that in air increased logarithmically with temperature. At temperatures of more than 20 degrees C the oxygen uptake of both species was greater in water than in air. 2. When the fishes were able freely to select either an aquatic or terrestrial habitat, the tota...

The effect of hot water extract of fruits of Helicteres isora on glucose uptake was studied in rodent skeletal muscle cells (L-6 cells) involved in glucose utilization. H. isora is an antidiabetic medicinal plant being used in Indian traditional medicine. Hot water extracts were analysed for glucose uptake activity and found to be significantly active at 200 mug/ml dose comparable with insulin ...

Water uptake in two glass-ionomer cements stored in various aqueous ionic solutions has been studied following a 6-week storage period, and the bound/unbound water ratio has been determined. Both types of cement took up water with net uptake varying with the storage solution. Uptake was greatest with KCl and lowest for 0.9 % NaCl. By comparison with an immature (1 hour old) specimen of each cem...

Studies of the water balance in adult water bugs have been reported in previous papers (Staddon, 1963, 1964). The adults lose water in the rectal fluid and gain water as a result of drinking and by osmotic uptake through the cuticle. The rate of osmotic uptake was estimated indirectly, from a knowledge of the rates of rectal fluid production and drinking, to lie between 2 and 7% of the body wei...

The regulation of water uptake of germinating tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) seeds was studied spatially and temporally by in vivo (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) microimaging and (1)H-magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy. These nondestructive state-of-the-art methods showed that water distribution in the water uptake phases II and III is inhomogeneous. The micropylar seed end is the major ...

Many species have been found to be capable of foliar water uptake, but little research has focused on this in desert plants. Tamarix ramosissima was investigated to determine whether its leaves can directly absorb water from high humidity atmosphere and, if they can, to understand the magnitude and importance of foliar water uptake. Various techniques were adopted to demonstrate foliar water up...

Niche complementarity in resource use has been proposed as a key mechanism to explain the positive effects of increasing plant species richness on ecosystem processes, in particular on primary productivity. Since hardly any information is available for niche complementarity in water use, we tested the effects of plant diversity on spatial and temporal complementarity in water uptake in experime...

The uptake kinetics of strontium in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were characterized in vivo, exposing preacclimated fish to a wide range of Sr21 (0.27 mM–10.0 mM) and Ca21 (10 mM–10 mM) concentrations in water; 85Sr, 45Ca, and 47Ca were used as tracers in determining the uptake, and the possibility of adsorption of the tracers to the exterior of the fish were verified. The uptake rates wer...