Effect of extremely weak pulsed magnetic field type Bemer 3000 on ratings of perceived exertion

The aim of this study was to examine whether is an influence of the exposition on different inductions of magnetic fields on rating of perceived exertion during 10 min long standardised physical cycloergometer exercise. The investigation was performed in 40 healthy, non-smoking, fit men, mean age 202. The participants were randomly attributed to 4 groups, each including 10 subjects. The first one (group E18) consisted of subjects exposed to the magnetic field with the intensity of 18 μT, the second one (group E64) exposed to the magnetic field with the intensity of 64 μT. Two control groups were formed to accompany these exposed to the magnetic field. In these placebo groups (S-T) subjects were not exposed to the magnetic field (so called false therapy, „sham treatment”). The study consisted of 4 steps: pilot study, the first endurance test, exposure to the magnetic field, the second endurance test. The aim of the pilot study was to define subjective feelings of the participant during the effort, his reaction to the effort and also practical familiarization with the character and rules of the endurance test and Borg scale interpretation during 10 min of endurance cycloergometer test. The first endurance test was performed two days after the pilot study with the same rules and its goal was to measure the level of tiredness according to the Borg scale during 10 min long standardised physical effort. The second endurance test was performed according to the same rules as the first one and its goal was to analyse the effect of 20 exposures to the magnetic field with the intensity of 18 and 64 μT repeated daily on the perception of tiredness increase as expressed in the Borg scale when performing 10 min long standardised physical effort. In subjects exposed to 18 μT magnetic field neither changes in the perception of fatigue nor changes in the heart rate at particular levels of the Borg scale have been observed. When compared with both control and placebo group subjects exposed to 64 μT strong magnetic field exhibited statistically significant increase in the period of attaining consecutive levels of fatigue as measured in the Borg scale. Results of the present study demonstrated beneficial influence of the magnetic field with 64 μT intensity on changes in the perception of fatigue during physical workload

Characteristics and properties of nano-LiCoO2 synthesized by pre-organized single source precursors: Li-ion diffusivity, electrochemistry and biological assessment

Background: LiCoO2 is one of the most used cathode materials in Li-ion batteries. Its conventional synthesis requires high temperature (>800 degrees C) and long heating time (>24 h) to obtain the micronscale rhombohedral layered high-temperature phase of LiCoO2 ( HT-LCO). Nanoscale HT-LCO is of interest to improve the battery performance as the lithium (Li+) ion pathway is expected to be shorter in nanoparticles as compared to micron sized ones. Since batteries typically get recycled, the exposure to nanoparticles during this process needs to be evaluated. Results: Several new single source precursors containing lithium (Li+) and cobalt (Co2+) ions, based on alkoxides and aryloxides have been structurally characterized and were thermally transformed into nanoscale HT-LCO at 450 degrees C within few hours. The size of the nanoparticles depends on the precursor, determining the electrochemical performance. The Li-ion diffusion coefficients of our - LiCoO2 nanoparticles improved at least by a factor of 10 compared to commercial one, while showing good reversibility upon charging and discharging. The hazard of occupational exposure to nanoparticles during battery recycling was investigated with an in vitro multicellular lung model. Conclusions: Our heterobimetallic single source precursors allow to dramatically reduce the production temperature and time for HT-LCO. The obtained nanoparticles of LiCoO2 have faster kinetics for Li+ insertion/extraction compared to microparticles. Overall, nano-sized - LiCoO2 particles indicate a lower cytotoxic and (pro-)inflammogenic potential in vitro compared to their micron-sized counterparts. However, nanoparticles aggregate in air and behave partially like microparticles

Effects of maternal education on diet, anemia, and iron deficiency in Korean school-aged children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We investigated the relationship among socioeconomic status factors, the risk of anemia, and iron deficiency among school-aged children in Korea.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The sample consisted of fourth-grade students aged 10 y recruited from nine elementary schools in Korean urban areas in 2008 (<it>n </it>= 717). Anthropometric and blood biochemistry data were obtained for this cross-sectional observational study. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin levels lower than 11.5 g/dl. Iron deficiency was defined as serum iron levels lower than 40 ug/dl. We also obtained data on parental education from questionnaires and on children's diets from 3-day food diaries. Parental education was categorized as low or high, with the latter representing an educational level beyond high school.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Children with more educated mothers were less likely to develop anemia (<it>P </it>= 0.0324) and iron deficiency (<it>P </it>= 0.0577) than were those with less educated mothers. This group consumed more protein (<it>P </it>= 0.0004) and iron (<it>P </it>= 0.0012) from animal sources than did the children of less educated mothers, as reflected by their greater consumption of meat, poultry, and derivatives (<it>P </it>< 0.0001). Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant inverse relationship between maternal education and the prevalence of anemia (odds ratio: 0.52; 95% confidence interval: 0.32, 0.85).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>As a contributor to socioeconomic status, maternal education is important in reducing the risk of anemia and iron deficiency and in increasing children's consumption of animal food sources.</p

A combined diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy-mass spectroscopy-gas chromatography for the operando study of the heterogeneously catalyzed CO2hydrogenation over transition metal-based catalysts

We built an inline diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy-mass spectroscopy-gas chromatography (DRIFTS-MS-GC) apparatus aiming at an operando mechanistic study of the heterogeneously catalyzed CO2 hydrogenation reaction. The multifunctional and accurate system enabled the simultaneous utilization of IR, MS, GC, and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques in one single device to analyze the surface, gas, and liquid products formed during the reaction process. To assess the potential of the system, we compared the activity of pristine metal (Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu), metal alloy (LaNi4Cu), and metal-metal oxide (Co-CoO) catalysts with respect to the interactions between gaseous CO2 and the catalyst surfaces. For the quantitative comparison, the rate constants and activation energies of CO2 hydrogenation were determined. The results showed a composition dependent reactivity of the metals. The metal oxide mixed with the metal is essentially important for the formation of observable of the surface species deriving from CO2 adsorption and for the enhancement of the CO2 conversion to CH4

Dietary iron intervention using a staple food product for improvement of iron status in female runners.

This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.Adequate nutrient intake is critically important for achieving optimal sports performance. Like all athletes, female runners require a nutritionally balanced diet to maintain daily activities and a successful training regime. This study investigates the effects of cereal product based dietary iron intervention on iron status of recreational female runners (n = 11; 32 ± 7yr; 239 ± 153 minutes exercise/week, of which 161 ± 150 minutes running activity/week; VO2max 38 ± 4 ml/kg/min)