Similar effects on exercise performance following different respiratory muscle training programs in healthy young men.

Both respiratory muscle endurance training (RMET) and inspiratory resistive training (IMT) seem to increase whole-body exercise performance, but direct comparisons between the two are scarce. We hypothesized that the similarity of RMET to exercise-induced ventilation would induce larger improvements compared to IMT. Twenty-six moderately-trained men performed either 4 weeks of RMET, IMT or SHAM training.

Life cycle impact assessment modeling for particulate matter: A new approach based on physico-chemical particle properties.

Particulate matter (PM) causes severe damage to human health globally. Airborne PM is a mixture of solid and liquid droplets suspended in air. It consists of organic and inorganic components, and the particles of concern range in size from a few nanometers to approximately 10μm.

Are nanosized or dissolved metals more toxic in the environment? A meta-analysis.

Recently, much has been written about the extreme urgency of elaborating the regulations for engineered nanomaterials. Such regulations are needed both from lawmakers, to protect people from potentially adverse effects, and from industry representatives, to prove that nanoproducts are produced carefully and with caution to avoid possible lawsuits. However, developing regulations has proven to be a difficult task, and an ambiguous topic where errors can easily occur.

Effect of inspiratory muscle fatigue on exercise performance taking into account the fatigue-induced excess respiratory drive.

Inspiratory muscle fatigue (IMF) is suggested to compromise exercise performance, possibly via a respiratory muscle metaboreflex that impairs blood flow to working muscles, thereby accelerating the development of fatigue in these muscles. Cycling with IMF has also been associated with an excess ventilatory response, which could per se impair performance. Therefore, the present study investigated whether prior-induced IMF would affect subsequent cycling performance via increased quadriceps muscle fatigue alone and whether fatigue-induced excess ventilation would contribute to this impairment.

The Western lifestyle and its long way to sustainability.

Since Fukushima, few people still consider nuclear power as a safe technology. The explosion of Deepwater Horizon was yet another incident revealing the dangers involved in the hunt for fossil fuels. Despite the public attention and outrage at these events, neither the concept of environmental citizenship, nor the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has prevailed in the struggle against environmental degradation.

Contribution of Li-ion batteries to the environmental impact of electric vehicles.

Battery-powered electric cars (BEVs) play a key role in future mobility scenarios. However, little is known about the environmental impacts of the production, use and disposal of the lithium ion (Li-ion) battery. This makes it difficult to compare the environmental impacts of BEVs with those of internal combustion engine cars (ICEVs).

Effects of different respiratory muscle training regimes on fatigue-related variables during volitional hyperpnoea.

We compared the effects of the most commonly used respiratory muscle (RM) training regimes: RM endurance training (RMET; normocapnic hyperpnoea) and inspiratory resistive training (IMT), on RM performance. Twenty-six healthy men were randomized into 3 groups performing 4 weeks of RMET, IMT or sham-training. Lung function, RM strength and endurance were tested before and after training.

Development of respiratory muscle contractile fatigue in the course of hyperpnoea.

To assess the development of inspiratory and expiratory muscle fatigue during normocapnic hyperpnoea, we studied fourteen healthy men performing 8min hyperpnoea, 6min pause, 8min hyperpnoea, etc., until task failure. Twitch transdiaphragmatic (P(di,tw)) and gastric (P(ga,tw)) pressures were measured during cervical and thoracic magnetic nerve stimulation, before hyperpnoea, after every 8min of hyperpnoea, and at task failure (i.