Cardiovascular hemodynamic effects of Red Bull® Energy Drink during prolonged, simulated, monotonous driving

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the cardiovascular hemodynamic effects of Red Bull® Energy Drink during prolonged, simulated, monotonous driving. Methods: This was a double-blind, within-subjects-design, crossover study. Twelve healthy volunteers (21.7 ± 0.8 years old) experienced each of three conditions at various times: 1) consumption of Red Bull® Energy Drink; 2) consumption of placebo-controlled drink; and 3) no test drink. All subjects undertook 90-min periods of simulated monotonous driving, during which physiological measurements were made. The variables recorded were cardiovascular indices, i.e., mean blood pressure (MBP), cardiac output (CO), electrocardiogram RR interval (RR), total peripheral-vascular resistance (TPR: = MBP/CO), and normalized pulse volume (NPV). Additional parameters were the standard deviation of lateral position, i.e., the weaving of the car, and subjective rating of sleepiness. Results: CO, RR, and TPR during the monotonous task were significantly different in those consuming the energy drink as compared with those receiving the placebo and as compared with no drink values. The energy drink elicited a cardiac-dominant reaction pattern, while the other conditions demonstrated the vascular-dominant reaction pattern typically observed in monotonous driving tasks. The observed differences indicate the cardiovascular system being more aroused with the energy drink. Conclusion: The effects of Red Bull® Energy Drink were reflected in cardiovascular hemodynamic phenomena especially to the heart function, and we conclude that consumption of this drink before long-distance driving in non-sleepy drivers could facilitate more physiologically active, and possibly safer, driving. © 2013 Yamakoshi et al

Structure of corrosion product formed on carbon steel covered with NiSO4-Added resin coating under sulfuric acid mist environment containing chloride

Corrosion resistance of carbon steel covered with resin coating containing nickel sulfate has been evaluated under chloride and sulfuric acid mist environment. The structure of corrosion products formed on steel surface was investigated by XRD and XAFS analyses using synchrotron radiation. Nickel sulfate promoted the formation of goethite and akaganeite. It was considered that this akaganeite was not tetragonal β-FeOOH but monoclinic akaganeite containing nickel.Shota Hayashida, Masamitsu Takahashi, Hiroshi Deguchi, Hiroaki Tsuchiya, Koushu Hanaki, Masato Yamashita, Shinji Fujimoto, Structure of Corrosion Product Formed on Carbon Steel Covered with NiSO4-Added Resin Coating under Sulfuric Acid Mist Environment Containing Chloride, Materials Transactions, 2021, Volume 62, Issue 6, Pages 781-787, Released on J-STAGE May 25, 2021, Advance online publication May 14, 2021, Online ISSN 1347-5320, Print ISSN 1345-9678, https://doi.org/10.2320/matertrans.C-M2021819

Potential for health screening using long-term cardiovascular parameters measured by finger volume-oscillometry: Pilot comparative evaluation in regular and sleep-deprived activities

We explored the potential of health screening based on the long-term measurement of cardiovascular parameters using the finger volume-oscillometric technique. An automated instrument made simultaneous measurements of key cardiovascular parameters, including blood pressure, pulse pressure, heart rate, normalized pulse volume as an index of α-adrenalin-mediated sympathetic activity, and finger arterial elasticity. These were derived from finger photo-plethysmographic signals during application of cuff pressure. To assess the feasibility of achieving a screening function, measurements were made in ten healthy volunteers during 10 days of day-to-day living (normal condition), and carried out several times at a fixed time every day. During successive 10-day measurements, a 30-hour period of total sleep deprivation was introduced as a physiological challenge (abnormal condition). A linear discriminant analysis of the data was conducted to determine whether these two conditions could be discriminated. Periodic data collection was performed rapidly and easily, and the %-correct classifications of normal and abnormal conditions were 78.2% and 77.5%, respectively. This ability of the method to discriminate between regular and sleep-deprived activities demonstrates its potential for healthcare screening during day-to-day living. Further investigations using larger age and gender groups of subjects including patients with cardiovascular diseases under real-life situations are required. © 2013 IEEE

Structure of Corrosion Product Formed on Carbon Steel Covered with NiSO4-added Resin Coating under Sulfuric Acid Mist Environment Containing Chloride

塩化物を含む硫酸ミスト環境において，NiSO4含有樹脂を被覆した炭素鋼の耐食性を評価した．形成した腐食生成物の構造を解明するため，放射光を用いたXRDおよびXAFS解析を実施した．NiSO4により，ゲーサイトおよびアカガネアイトの形成が促進された．このアカガネアイトは正方晶系のβ-FeOOHではなく，Niを含有した単斜晶系のアカガネアイトであると考えられる．Corrosion resistance of carbon steel covered with resin coating containing nickel sulfate has been evaluated under chloride and sulfuric acid mist environment. The structure of corrosion products formed on steel surface was investigated by XRD and XAFS analyses using synchrotron radiation. Nickel sulfate promoted the formation of goethite and akaganeite. It was considered that this akaganeite was not tetragonal β-FeOOH but monoclinic akaganeite containing nickel