Nitrogen Balance
Nitrogen Balance - Related Videos
01:49
The Nitrogen Cycle
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2019
Nitrogen atoms, present in all proteins and DNA, are recycled between abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem. However, the primary form of nitrogen on Earth is nitrogen gas, which cannot be used by most animals and plants. Thus, nitrogen gas must first be converted into a usable form by nitrogen-fixing bacteria before it can be cycled through other living organisms. The use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and animal waste products in human agriculture has greatly influenced the...
05:04
Visualization of Productivity Zones Based on Nitrogen Mass Balance Model in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island
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Cited by 1 •
2023
Here, we aim to visualize the zonation of biological productivity in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, based on the nitrogen mass balance model. The results will inform nutrient management in the coastal regions to reduce hypoxia and eutrophication.
07:49
On-line Analysis of Nitrogen Containing Compounds in Complex Hydrocarbon Matrixes
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Cited by 14 •
2016
A method combining comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with nitrogen chemiluminescence detection has been developed and applied to on-line analysis of nitrogen containing compounds in a complex hydrocarbon matrix.
07:03
Assessment of Motor Balance and Coordination in Mice using the Balance Beam
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Cited by 395 •
2011
Deficits in fine motor coordination can be assessed with the balance beam test. Performance on the beam is quantified by the speed at which the beam is traversed and the number of times the mouse slips on the beam.
02:58
Balancing Redox Equations
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2020
Electrochemistry is the science involved in the interconversion of electrical and chemical reactions. Such reactions are called reduction-oxidation, or redox reactions. These important reactions are defined by changes in oxidation states for one or more reactant elements and include a subset of reactions involving the transfer of electrons between reactant species. Electrochemistry as a field has evolved to yield sufficient insights on the fundamental principles of redox chemistry and multiple...
FAQs
After dietary protein is digested and absorbed, its amino acids can support the synthesis of body proteins. When tissue needs do not use all available amino acids, their breakdown removes nitrogen from the amino acid pool and converts it to urea for excretion. This links nitrogen balance to the competing processes of protein construction and amino acid catabolism.
These conditions require net production of new body tissue, so more nitrogen is retained from absorbed amino acids for protein synthesis than is lost through excretion. The resulting positive balance signals that nitrogen is contributing to tissue expansion or restoration. It therefore provides a biological indicator of increased protein-building activity rather than simply reflecting protein intake alone.
Negative nitrogen balance means nitrogen losses exceed the amount retained for body protein formation. In biological terms, protein breakdown and nitrogen excretion are outpacing replacement. This pattern can accompany inadequate nutrition, illness, or muscle wasting, making it relevant when evaluating whether body tissues are being maintained or progressively depleted.
Dietary protein intake describes nitrogen entering the body, but nitrogen balance also considers nitrogen leaving through urine, feces, sweat, and other routes. Two individuals with similar protein intake can therefore have different balances if their retention or losses differ. The balance offers a broader view of protein metabolism and changes in body tissues than intake data alone.
Assessment compares nitrogen supplied mainly by dietary protein with nitrogen accounted for in excreted losses. Urine, feces, sweat, and other losses are relevant to that comparison, while the resulting pattern indicates retention or depletion. Biologists and clinicians can use this information to evaluate protein requirements, nutritional status, recovery, and changes in body tissues.
The measure is especially informative when protein needs or tissue status may be changing, including growth, pregnancy, tissue repair, inadequate nutrition, illness, or muscle wasting. A positive result can support evidence of retention during building or recovery, whereas a negative result can signal excessive loss. These interpretations help connect nutrition with biological changes in tissues.