Wind-Induced Fatigue and Asymmetric Damage in a Timber Bridge.

The transformation of a 30 m long timber pedestrian bridge into a wobbly (laterally swaying) bridge with a dramatically reduced first lateral modal frequency has been monitored by seven annual, multi-sensor surveys. This evidence, in combination with analysis of the wind record, observations of local damage and evidence of wind-induced excitations from other bridges, is used to present a multi-stage scenario of the extraordinary structural weakening of our study bridge in only a few years. Our analysis is constrained by observations of asymmetric damage (longitudinal splitting cracks around metallic connections along the south side of the deck, not explained by ordinary, essentially symmetric lateral oscillations) and over-threshold analysis of strong northerly wind events, including gusts. The proposed scenario is that an unexpected for the area icing event took advantage of construction vicissitudes and produced damage that reduced the lateral stiffness of the bridge, especially of the arch superstructure. In addition, strong winds sharing common direction with gusts produced a combination of semi-static lateral bending and of dynamic oscillations, leading to numerous cycles of asymmetric high amplitude lateral deflections producing tensile stress normal to grain, cracks localized in connections, and fatigue. The vertical stiffness of the bridge was only slightly affected.

Increased FXYD1 and PGC-1α mRNA after blood flow-restricted running is related to fibre type-specific AMPK signalling and oxidative stress in human muscle.

AIM: This study explored the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) on mRNA responses of PGC-1α (total, 1α1, and 1α4) and Na+ ,K+ -ATPase isoforms (NKA; α1-3 , ß1-3 , and FXYD1) to an interval running session and determined whether these effects were related to increased oxidative stress, hypoxia, and fibre type-specific AMPK and CaMKII signalling, in human skeletal muscle. METHODS: In a randomized, crossover fashion, 8 healthy men (26 ± 5 year and 57.4 ± 6.3 mL kg-1  min-1 ) completed 3 exercise sessions: without (CON) or with blood flow restriction (BFR), or in systemic hypoxia (HYP, ~3250 m). A muscle sample was collected before (Pre) and after exercise (+0 hour, +3 hours) to quantify mRNA, indicators of oxidative stress (HSP27 protein in type I and II fibres, and catalase and HSP70 mRNA), metabolites, and α-AMPK Thr172 /α-AMPK, ACC Ser221 /ACC, CaMKII Thr287 /CaMKII, and PLBSer16 /PLB ratios in type I and II fibres. RESULTS: Muscle hypoxia (assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy) was matched between BFR and HYP, which was higher than CON (~90% vs ~70%; P < .05). The mRNA levels of FXYD1 and PGC-1α isoforms (1α1 and 1α4) increased in BFR only (P < .05) and were associated with increases in indicators of oxidative stress and type I fibre ACC Ser221 /ACC ratio, but dissociated from muscle hypoxia, lactate, and CaMKII signalling. CONCLUSION: Blood flow restriction augmented exercise-induced increases in muscle FXYD1 and PGC-1α mRNA in men. This effect was related to increased oxidative stress and fibre type-dependent AMPK signalling, but unrelated to the severity of muscle hypoxia, lactate accumulation, and modulation of fibre type-specific CaMKII signalling.

Solution of underdetermined systems of equations with gridded a priori constraints.

The TOPINV, Topological Inversion algorithm (or TGS, Topological Grid Search) initially developed for the inversion of highly non-linear redundant systems of equations, can solve a wide range of underdetermined systems of non-linear equations. This approach is a generalization of a previous conclusion that this algorithm can be used for the solution of certain integer ambiguity problems in Geodesy. The overall approach is based on additional (a priori) information for the unknown variables. In the past, such information was used either to linearize equations around approximate solutions, or to expand systems of observation equations solved on the basis of generalized inverses. In the proposed algorithm, the a priori additional information is used in a third way, as topological constraints to the unknown n variables, leading to an R(n) grid containing an approximation of the real solution. The TOPINV algorithm does not focus on point-solutions, but exploits the structural and topological constraints in each system of underdetermined equations in order to identify an optimal closed space in the R(n) containing the real solution. The centre of gravity of the grid points defining this space corresponds to global, minimum-norm solutions. The rationale and validity of the overall approach are demonstrated on the basis of examples and case studies, including fault modelling, in comparison with SVD solutions and true (reference) values, in an accuracy-oriented approach.

Growth restriction before and after birth increases kinase signaling pathways in the adult rat heart.

To investigate the mechanisms for the previously reported development of adult cardiac hypertrophy in male rats following growth restriction, the levels of oxidative stress and activation of signaling kinases were measured in the left ventricle (LV) of adult rat offspring. In experiment one, bilateral uterine vessel ligation to induce uteroplacental insufficiency and growth restriction in the offspring (Restricted) or sham surgery was performed during pregnancy. Litters from sham mothers had litter size either reduced (Reduced Litter), which also restricted postnatal growth, or were left unaltered (Control). In males, Reduced Litter offspring had increased LV phosphorylation of AMPKα, p38 MAPK and Akt compared with Restricted and Controls (P < 0.05). In females, both Restricted and Reduced Litter adult offspring had increased LV phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and Akt, however, only Restricted offspring had increased phosphorylation of AMPKα (P < 0.05). In addition, only Restricted male offspring displayed LV oxidative stress (P < 0.05). Experiment two investigated in mothers exposed to uteroplacental insufficiency or sham surgery the effects of cross-fostering offspring at birth, and therefore the effects of the postnatal lactational environment. Surprisingly, the cross-fostering itself resulted in increased LV phosphorylation of AMPKα and Akt in females and increased phosphorylation of Akt in males compared with Control non-cross-fostered offspring (P < 0.05). In conclusion, kinase signaling in the adult LV can be programmed by uteroplacental insufficiency induced growth restriction in a gender-specific manner. In addition, the heart of adult rats is also sensitive to programming following the postnatal intervention of cross-fostering alone as well as by postnatal growth restriction.

Skeletal muscle metabolic and ionic adaptations during intense exercise following sprint training in humans.

The effects of sprint training on muscle metabolism and ion regulation during intense exercise remain controversial. We employed a rigorous methodological approach, contrasting these responses during exercise to exhaustion and during identical work before and after training. Seven untrained men undertook 7 wk of sprint training. Subjects cycled to exhaustion at 130% pretraining peak oxygen uptake before (PreExh) and after training (PostExh), as well as performing another posttraining test identical to PreExh (PostMatch). Biopsies were taken at rest and immediately postexercise. After training in PostMatch, muscle and plasma lactate (Lac(-)) and H(+) concentrations, anaerobic ATP production rate, glycogen and ATP degradation, IMP accumulation, and peak plasma K(+) and norepinephrine concentrations were reduced (P<0.05). In PostExh, time to exhaustion was 21% greater than PreExh (P<0.001); however, muscle Lac(-) accumulation was unchanged; muscle H(+) concentration, ATP degradation, IMP accumulation, and anaerobic ATP production rate were reduced; and plasma Lac(-), norepinephrine, and H(+) concentrations were higher (P<0.05). Sprint training resulted in reduced anaerobic ATP generation during intense exercise, suggesting that aerobic metabolism was enhanced, which may allow increased time to fatigue.

Muscle adenine nucleotide metabolism during and in recovery from maximal exercise in humans.

The relationship between changes in the muscle total adenine nucleotide pool (TAN = ATP + ADP + AMP) and IMP during and after 30 s of sprint cycling was examined. Skeletal muscle samples were obtained from the vastus lateralis muscle of seven untrained men (23. 9 +/- 2.3 yr, 74.4 +/- 3.6 kg, and 55.0 +/- 2.9 ml. kg(-1). min(-1) peak oxygen consumption) before and immediately after exercise and after 5 and 10 min of passive recovery. The exercise-induced increase in muscle IMP was linearly related to the decrease in muscle TAN (r = -0.97, P < 0.01), and the slope of this relationship (-0.83) was not different from 1.0 (P > 0.05), indicating a 1:1 stoichiometric relationship. This interpretation must be treated cautiously, because all subjects displayed a greater decrease in TAN compared with the increase in IMP content, and the TAN + IMP + inosine + hypoxanthine content was lower (P < 0.05) immediately after exercise compared with during rest. During the first 5 min of recovery, the increase in TAN was not correlated with the decrease in IMP (r = -0.18, P > 0.05). In all subjects, the magnitude of TAN increase was higher than the magnitude of IMP decrease over this recovery period. In contrast, the increase in TAN was correlated with the decrease in IMP throughout the second 5 min of recovery (r = -0.80, P < 0.05), and it was a 1:1 stoichiometric relationship (slope = -1.12). These data indicate that a small proportion of the TAN pool was temporarily lost from the muscle purine stores during sprinting but was rapidly recovered after exercise.

Effect of carbohydrate ingestion on ammonia metabolism during exercise in humans.

The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of carbohydrate ingestion on plasma and muscle ammonia (NH(3) denotes ammonia and ammonium) accumulation during prolonged exercise. Eleven trained men exercised for 2 h at 65% peak pulmonary oxygen consumption while ingesting either 250 ml of an 8% carbohydrate-electrolyte solution every 15 min (CHO) or an equal volume of a sweet placebo. Blood glucose and plasma insulin levels during exercise were higher in CHO, but plasma hypoxanthine was lower after 120 min (1.7 +/- 0.3 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.1 micromol/l; P < 0. 05). Plasma NH(3) levels were similar at rest and after 30 min of exercise in both trials but were lower after 60, 90, and 120 min of exercise in CHO (62 +/- 9 vs. 76 +/- 9 micromol/l; P < 0.05). Muscle NH(3) levels were similar at rest and after 30 min of exercise but were lower after 120 min of exercise in CHO (1.51 +/- 0.21 vs. 2.07 +/- 0.23 mmol/kg dry muscle; P < 0.05; n = 5). These data are best explained by carbohydrate ingestion reducing muscle NH(3) production from amino acid degradation, although a small reduction in net AMP catabolism within the contracting muscle may also make a minor contribution to the lower tissue NH(3) levels.

Purine loss after repeated sprint bouts in humans.

The influence of the number of sprint bouts on purine loss was examined in nine men (age 24.8 +/- 1.6 yr, weight 76 +/- 3.9 kg, peak O(2) consumption 3.87 +/- 0.16 l/min) who performed either one (B1), four (B4), or eight (B8) 10-s sprints on a cycle ergometer, 1 wk apart, in a randomized order. Forearm venous plasma inosine, hypoxanthine (Hx), and uric acid concentrations were measured at rest and during 120 min of recovery. Urinary inosine, Hx, and uric acid excretion were also measured before and 24 h after exercise. During the first 120 min of recovery, plasma inosine and Hx concentrations, and urinary Hx excretion rate, were progressively higher (P < 0.05) with an increasing number of sprint bouts. Plasma uric acid concentration was higher (P < 0.05) in B8 compared with B1 and B4 after 45, 60, and 120 min of recovery. Total urinary excretion of purines (inosine + Hx + uric acid) was higher (P < 0. 05) at 2 h of recovery after B8 (537 +/- 59 micromol) compared with the other trials (B1: 270 +/- 76; B4: 327 +/- 59 micromol). These results indicate that the loss of purine from the body was enhanced by increasing the number of intermittent 10-s sprint bouts.

Effect of creatine supplementation on sprint exercise performance and muscle metabolism.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of creatine supplementation (CrS) on sprint exercise performance and skeletal muscle anaerobic metabolism during and after sprint exercise. Eight active, untrained men performed a 20-s maximal sprint on an air-braked cycle ergometer after 5 days of CrS [30 g creatine (Cr) + 30 g dextrose per day] or placebo (30 g dextrose per day). The trials were separated by 4 wk, and a double-blind crossover design was used. Muscle and blood samples were obtained at rest, immediately after exercise, and after 2 min of passive recovery. CrS increased the muscle total Cr content (9.5 +/- 2.0%, P < 0.05, mean +/- SE); however, 20-s sprint performance was not improved by CrS. Similarly, the magnitude of the degradation or accumulation of muscle (e.g., adenine nucleotides, phosphocreatine, inosine 5'-monophosphate, lactate, and glycogen) and plasma metabolites (e.g. , lactate, hypoxanthine, and ammonia/ammonium) were also unaffected by CrS during exercise or recovery. These data demonstrated that CrS increased muscle total Cr content, but the increase did not induce an improved sprint exercise performance or alterations in anaerobic muscle metabolism.

Influence of elevated muscle temperature on metabolism during intense, dynamic exercise.

This study examined the effects of elevated muscle temperature on muscle metabolism during exercise. Seven active but untrained men completed two cycle ergometer trials for 2 min at a workload estimated to require 115% maximal oxygen uptake (VO2) either without pretreatment (CT) or after having their thigh wrapped in a heating blanket for 60 min before exercise (HT). HT increased (P < 0.01) muscle temperature (Tm) and resulted in a difference in Tm between the two trials before (delta = 1.9 +/- 0.1 degrees C, P < 0.01) and after exercise (delta = 0.6 +/- 0.2 degree C, P < 0.05). HT did not affect rectal temperature or plasma catecholamines. In addition, these parameters were not different between CT and HT either before or after exercise. No differences in resting intramuscular concentrations of the adenine nucleotides (ATP, ADP, AMP) or their degradation products (inosine 5'-monophosphate, ammonia), lactate, glycogen, creatine phosphate, or creatine were observed between HT and CT. During exercise, the magnitude of ATP degradation and inosine 5'-monophosphate and ammonia accumulation was higher (P < 0.05) in HT compared with CT. Although preexercise concentrations of glycogen and lactate were not different between the two trials, postexercise lactate concentration was higher (P < 0.05) and glycogen lower (P < 0.05) in HT compared with CT. In addition, net muscle glycogen use was higher (P < 0.05) in HT. It is concluded that an elevated Tm per se increases muscle glycogenolysis, glycolysis, and high-energy phosphate degradation during exercise. These alterations may be the result of an increased rate of ATP turnover associated with the exercise and/or changes in the anaerobic/aerobic contribution to ATP resynthesis.

Blunting the rise in body temperature reduces muscle glycogenolysis during exercise in humans.

To examine the effect of blunting the rise in body temperature on exercise metabolism, seven endurance-trained men cycled for 40 min at 65% of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2,max) in an environmental chamber at either 20 degrees C and 20% relative humidity (RH) (T20) or 3 degrees C and approximately 50% RH (T3). The trials were conducted in random order at least 1 week apart. Mean oxygen consumption (VO2) during exercise was not different when comparing the two trials. In contrast, the mean respiratory exchange ratio (RER) was lower (P < 0.05) at T20 compared with T3. Heart rate, rectal temperature and plasma catecholamines were higher (P < 0.05) during exercise at T20 compared with T3, as was post-exercise muscle temperature (P < 0.01). Muscle and blood lactate and blood glucose concentrations were not significantly different when comparing T20 with T3. Net muscle glycogen utilization was greater (P < 0.05) at T20 compared with T3. These results suggest that glycogenolysis in contracting skeletal muscle is reduced during exercise when the rise in body core temperature is attenuated. These changes in carbohydrate metabolism appear to be influenced by alterations in muscle temperature and/or sympatho-adrenal activity.

Effect of heat stress on muscle energy metabolism during exercise.

To examine the effect of heat stress on muscle energy metabolism during submaximal exercise, 12 endurance-trained men cycled on two occasions for approximately 40 min at 70% maximal O2 uptake in an environmental chamber at either 20 degrees C and 20% relative humidity (T20) or 40 degrees C and 20% relative humidity (T40). Trials were conducted > or = 1 wk apart in random order. No difference in mean O2 uptake was observed when exercise in T40 was compared with that in T20. In contrast, exercise in T40 resulted in a higher mean heart rate (P < 0.01) and respiratory exchange ratio (P < 0.05) compared with that in T20. Postexercise rectal and muscle temperatures were also higher (P < 0.01) in T40 than in T20. Lower (P < 0.01) postexercise creatine phosphate and higher creatine (P < 0.01) and ammonia (P < 0.05) were observed in muscle after exercise in T40 compared with T20. In addition, an increased (P < 0.01) muscle glycogenolysis and higher (P < 0.01) postexercise muscle lactate accumulation were observed during exercise in T40 compared with T20. In contrast, no differences were observed in postexercise concentrations of total adenine nucleotide pool (ATP+ADP+AMP), ATP/ADP ratio, or inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) when T40 was compared with T20. These results indicate that the rate of ATP utilization may be increased during exercise in the heat but that this increased energy demand is predominantly met by an increase in anaerobic glycolysis and creatine phosphate hydrolysis, preventing a reduction in total adenine nucleotide pool.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Influence of sprint training on human skeletal muscle purine nucleotide metabolism.

To examine the effect of sprint training on human skeletal muscle purine nucleotide metabolism, eight active untrained subjects completed a maximal 30-s sprint bout on a cycle ergometer before and after 7 wk of sprint training. Resting muscle ATP and total adenine nucleotide content were reduced (P < 0.05) by 19 and 18%, respectively, after training. Training resulted in a 52% attenuation (P < 0.05) in the magnitude of ATP depletion after exercise and a similar reduction (P < 0.05) in the accumulation of inosine 5'-monophosphate and ammonia. During recovery, muscle inosine 5'-monophosphate (P < 0.05) and inosine (P < 0.01) content were reduced after training, as was the accumulation of inosine (P < 0.05). Plasma ammonia was higher (P < 0.05) after training early in recovery; in contrast, plasma hypoxanthine concentrations were reduced (P < 0.05) during the latter stages of recovery. The attenuated resting ATP and total adenine nucleotide contents after training probably result from the acute effects of prior training sessions. The reduction in the magnitude of ATP depletion during a 30-s sprint bout after training must reflect an improved balance between ATP hydrolysis and resynthesis. It is unclear which mechanism(s) is responsible for the reduction in the magnitude of ATP degradation after training.

Muscle metabolism during exercise and heat stress in trained men: effect of acclimation.

Exercise metabolism was examined in 13 endurance athletes who exercised on three occasions for 40 min at 70% of maximal O2 uptake in an environmental chamber at either 20 degrees C and 20% relative humidity (RTT) or 40 degrees C and 20% relative humidity before (PRE ACC) or after (POST ACC) 7 days of acclimation. Exercise in the heat resulted in a lower (P < 0.05) mean O2 uptake (0.13 l/min) and higher (P < 0.01) heart rate and respiratory exchange ratio. Acclimation resulted in a lower (P < 0.01) mean heart rate and respiratory exchange ratio. Postexercise rectal temperature, muscle temperature, muscle and blood lactate, and blood glucose were higher (P < 0.01) in the PRE ACC than in the RTT trial, but all were reduced (P < 0.01) in the POST ACC compared with the PRE ACC trial. Muscle glycogenolysis and percentage of type I muscle fibers showing glycogen depletion were greater (P < 0.05) in the PRE ACC than in the RTT trial. Muscle glycogenolysis was unaffected by acclimation during exercise in the heat, although the percentage of depleted type I fibers was higher (P < 0.05) in the unacclimated state. Plasma epinephrine was higher (P < 0.01) during exercise in the heat in the unacclimated individual relative to RTT but was lower (P < 0.01) in the POST ACC than in the PRE ACC trial. The greater reliance on carbohydrate as a fuel source during exercise in the heat appears to be partially reduced after acclimation. These alterations are consistent with the observed changes in plasma epinephrine concentrations.