The effect of pre-warming on performance during simulated firefighting exercise

This study examined the effect of active pre-warming on speed and quality of performance during simulated firefighting exercise. Twelve male firefighters performed two trials in counterbalanced order. They were either pre-warmed by 20-min cycling at 1.5 Watt kg⁻¹ body mass (WARM) or remained thermoneutral (CON) prior to a simulated firefighting activity. After the pre-warming, gastrointestinal temperature (P < 0.001), skin temperature (P = 0.002), and heart rate (P < 0.001) were higher in WARM than in CON. During the firefighting activity, rating of perceived exertion, thermal sensation and discomfort were higher for WARM than for CON. Finish time of the firefighting activity was similar, but the last task of the activity was completed slower in WARM than in CON (P = 0.04). In WARM, self-reported performance quality was lower than in CON (P = 0.04). It is concluded that pre-warming reduces the speed during the last part of simulated firefighting activity and reduces self-reported quality of performance.     

The Free Fatty Acid Content of Fish Oil,Part II: The Effect of Anchovy Quality on the Free Fatty Acid Content of the Resulting Anchovy Oil and Meal

The free fatty acid (FFA) content of anchovy oil and the residual lipids in anchovy meal were studied as a function of the length and temperature of the delay between catching and processing the fish. It was found that there was a marked increase in the FFA content of the press oil and the residual meal lipids as a result of increased-delay between catching and processing. It was also found that — other things being equal — lean anchovy yielded oils with higher FFA values than fatty anchovy. Calculation showed that the phospholipid level of an anchovy meal may serve as a useful quality index.     

A Convenient Method for the Accurate Determination of Phosphorous in Fish Oils

The phosphorous content of fish oil was determined by acid hydrolysis for 168 h (one week) in 2 M hydrochloric acid at 120°C in glass tubes, followed by filtration and molybdenum blue colour development in an aliquot of the filtrate. The method is regarded as a convenient routine laboratory procedure, and the results obtained by the method are in good agreement with those obtained with the ashing procedure of the American Oil Chemists' Society. The determination has been satisfactorily applied to the analysis of many South African fish oils.     

Opportunities for public water utilities in the market of energy from water

An inventory is made of the possibilities to recover sustainable energy from the water cycle by identifying different water flows in a municipal environment as a sustainable energy source. It is discussed what role public water utilities should play in the market of energy from water. This is done for Waternet, the public water utility of Amsterdam, by describing experiences on two practical applications for aquifer thermal energy storage and energy recovery from drinking water. The main conclusion is that public water utilities can substantially contribute to the production of sustainable energy, especially by making use of heat and cold from the water cycle. Public water utilities have the opportunity to both regulate and enter the market for energy from water.     

IR studies of Re2O7 metathesis catalysts supported on alumina and phosphated alumina

FTIR data from Re₂O₇/-Al₂O₃ metathesis catalysts indicate that a low Re contents ReO₄ ions have predominantly reacted with basic surface OH groups, while at higher Re₂O₇ loadings they have also reacted with neutral and more acidic OH groups.On phosphated -Al₂O₃ the phosphate has reacted with the more acidic OH groups on the -Al₂O₃; in catalysts based on this support, the ReO₄ ^– ions have also reacted with the phosphorus-bonded OH groups already at low Re₂O₇ loadings, resulting in more active catalysts.     

Lithium salts as leachable corrosion inhibitors and potential replacement for hexavalent chromium in organic coatings for the protection of aluminum alloys

Lithium salts are being investigated as leachable corrosion inhibitor and potential replacement for hexavalent chromium in organic coatings. Model coatings loaded with lithium carbonate or lithium oxalate demonstrated active corrosion inhibition and the formation of a protective layer in a damaged area during neutral salt spray exposure. The present paper provides an abridged overview of the initial studies into this novel inhibitor technology for the active corrosion protection of aluminum alloys. Coating defects were investigated by microscopic techniques before and after exposure to corrosive conditions. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of cross-sections of the coating defect area demonstrated that the protective layer comprises a typical three-layered structure, which included a dense layer near the alloy surface, a porous middle layer, and a flake-shaped out layer. Potentiodynamic polarization measurements obtained with a microcapillary cell positioned in the coating defect area and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy confirmed the corrosion protective properties of these protective layers. The long-term corrosion inhibition of the lithium-based coating technology was tested in industrial coating systems.     

Dietary supplement for energy and reduced appetite containing the β-agonist isopropyloctopamine leads to heart problems and hospitalisations

In 2013 the Dutch authorities issued a warning against a dietary supplement that was linked to 11 reported adverse reactions, including heart problems and in one case even a cardiac arrest. In the UK a 20-year-old woman, said to have overdosed on this supplement, died. Since according to the label the product was a herbal mixture, initial LC-MS/MS analysis focused on the detection of plant toxins. Yohimbe alkaloids, which are not allowed to be present in herbal preparations according to Dutch legislation, were found at relatively high levels (400–900 mg kg^–1). However, their presence did not explain the adverse health effects reported. Based on these effects the supplement was screened for the presence of a β-agonist, using three different biosensor assays, i.e. the validated competitive radioligand β2-adrenergic receptor binding assay, a validated β-agonists ELISA and a newly developed multiplex microsphere (bead)-based β-agonist assay with imaging detection (MAGPIX^®). The high responses obtained in these three biosensors suggested strongly the presence of a β-agonist. Inspection of the label indicated the presence of N-isopropyloctopamine. A pure standard of this compound was bought and shown to have a strong activity in the three biosensor assays. Analysis by LC-full-scan high-resolution MS confirmed the presence of this ‘unknown known’ β3-agonist N-isopropyloctopamine, reported to lead to heart problems at high doses. A confirmatory quantitative analysis revealed that one dose of the preparation resulted in an intake of 40–60 mg, which is within the therapeutic range of this compound. The case shows the strength of combining bioassays with chemical analytical techniques for identification of illegal pharmacologically active substances in food supplements.     

Wanted: institutions for balancing global food and energy markets

The increasing demand for biomass for energy use is further escalating existing food security risks. Managing these risks is a task for global institutions. These should ensure timely investment in the world’s capacity for producing biomass and balance the use of this biomass for foods and for non-foods. To achieve this, institutional arrangements for global food markets must fulfil two important goals: reduce the short-term price instability of food markets and prevent a structural scarcity of food in the long term. This paper analyses how agro-food markets, energy markets and biofuel markets are currently regulated. As this regulation is ill-suited to manage food price instabilities and balance food and non-food use of biomass, new institutions need to be put in place. A coordinated system of global commodity management — not unlike the Commodity Control Organization proposed by Keynes for the post-WWII era — is proposed to deal with these coming challenges.