Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects the autonomous nervous system modulation on heart rate and is associated with several pathologies, including cardiac mortality. While mechanistic studies show ...that smoking is associated with lower HRV, population-based studies present conflicting results.
We assessed the mutual effects of active smoking status, cumulative smoking history, and current smoking intensity, on HRV among 4751 adults from the Cooperative Health Research In South Tyrol (CHRIS) study. The HRV metrics standard deviation of normal-to-normal (NN) inter-beat intervals (SDNN), square root of the mean squared differences of consecutive NN intervals (RMSSD), total power (TP), low (LF) and high frequency (HF) power, and their ratio (LF/HF), were derived from 20-minute electrocardiograms. Smoking status, pack-years (PY), and tobacco grams/day from standardized questionnaires were the main exposures. We fitted linear mixed models to account for relatedness, non-linearity, and moderating effects, and including fractional polynomials.
Past smokers had higher HRV levels than never smokers, independently of PY. The association of HRV with current smoking became apparent when accounting for the interaction between smoking status and PY. In current smokers, but not in past smokers, we observed HRV reductions between 2.0% (SDNN) and 4.9% (TP) every 5 PY increase. Furthermore, current smokers were characterized by dose-response reductions of 9.8% (SDNN), 8.9% (RMSSD), 20.1% (TP), 17.7% (LF), and 19.1% (HF), respectively, every 10 grams/day of smoked tobacco, independently of common cardiometabolic conditions and HRV-modifying drugs. The LF/HF ratio was not associated with smoking status, history, or intensity.
Smoking cessation was associated with higher HRV levels. In current smokers, heavier smoking intensity appears gradually detrimental on HRV, corroborating previous evidence. By affecting both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system indexes, but not the LF/HF balance, smoking intensity seems to exert a systemic dysautonomic effect.
Facile, one-pot conversion of free base 5,10,15-tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole, (H3)tpfc, into the coinage metal complexes of 2,3,17,18-tetraiodo-5,10,15-tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole, ...(I4-tpfc)M (M = Cu, Ag, Au), is reported. The iodination/metalation procedures provide much higher yields and larger selectivity than both conceivable stepwise syntheses. Photophysical analysis shows that the gold(III) complex (I4-tpfc)Au displays phosphorescence at room temperature and a substantial quantum yield for singlet oxygen formation.
Next-generation electrolytes for lithium batteries must be able to conduct ions at sufficiently high current densities; yet this regime is rarely studied directly. The limiting current density of an ...electrolyte quantifies the highest possible rate of ion transport under an applied dc potential. Herein, we report on the limiting current density in twelve nanostructured polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO, or SEO) copolymer electrolytes. We find that the limiting current at a given salt concentration increases systematically with increasing volume fraction of the PEO block (φ EO). In contrast, the effective-medium theory, commonly used to analyze conductivity in block copolymer electrolytes, predicts that limiting current is independent of φ EO. To resolve this conundrum, the ionic conductivity, the mutual diffusion coefficient of the salt, and the steady-state current fraction of the block copolymer electrolytes were measured. These measurements enable predictions of limiting current with no adjustable parameters using the concentrated solution theory. We found quantitative agreement between experimentally measured limiting current densities and predictions based on the concentrated solution theory. This work sheds light on how to reliably measure and predict limiting current density in composite electrolytes.
Numerous studies have shown that the performance of hematite photoanodes for light-driven water splitting is improved substantially by doping with various metals, including tin. Although the enhanced ...performance has commonly been attributed to bulk effects such as increased conductivity, recent studies have noted an impact of doping on the efficiency of the interfacial transfer of holes involved in the oxygen evolution reaction. However, the methods used were not able to elucidate the origin of this improved efficiency, which could originate from passivation of surface electron-hole recombination or catalysis of the oxygen evolution reaction. The present study used intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS), which is a powerful small amplitude perturbation technique that can de-convolute the rate constants for charge transfer and recombination at illuminated semiconductor electrodes. The method was applied to examine the kinetics of water oxidation on thin solution-processed hematite model photoanodes, which can be Sn-doped without morphological change. We observed a significant increase in photocurrent upon Sn-doping, which is attributed to a higher transfer efficiency. The kinetic data obtained using IMPS show that Sn-doping brings about a more than tenfold increase in the rate constant for water oxidation by photogenerated holes. This result provides the first demonstration that Sn-doping speeds up water oxidation on hematite by increasing the rate constant for hole transfer.
In a cohort including individuals with suspected high alcohol consumption, the concentrations of the indirect alcohol biomarkers carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) and mean corpuscular volume ...(MCV) and the direct alcohol biomarker phosphatidylethanol (PEth) were investigated. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was analysed as a marker for acute alcohol ingestion.
In addition to questions about subjective alcohol consumption behaviour, 147 homeless persons underwent a physical examination with blood sampling. BAC, PEth, CDT and MCV were determined in the blood samples. Special focus was on the comparison of PEth and CDT for indicating excessive alcohol consumption.
BAC was measured above 0.1‰ in 39 blood samples (0.1–2.5‰, median 0.75‰). PEth was detected in all of them. Overall, PEth was positive (≥10 ng/ml) in 104 samples (71%) (11–5687 ng/ml, median 650 ng/ml) with 68 (46%) being above the cut-off for excessive alcohol consumption (210 ng/ml). In 26 subjects PEth was the only positive alcohol biomarker. CDT was ≥ 1.7% in 66 cases (47%) (1.8–22.2%, median 4.4%) and ≥ 2.5% in 52 (35%) cases. MCV was elevated (≥95 fl) in 58 subjects (39%). CDT and PEth concentrations showed a significant positive correlation (spearman's correlation coefficient ρ = 0.77, p < 0.001). PEth concentrations were significantly higher in samples that were also CDT positive than solely PEth positive (p = 0.004). PEth did not indicate excessive alcohol consumption (< 210 ng/ml) in eight and two cases in which CDT was ≥ 1.7% and ≥ 2.5%, respectively. On the other hand, CDT was< 1.7% and< 2.5% in ten and 18 cases, respectively, in which PEth was above cut-off for excessive alcohol consumption. Taking the self-reports of the participants into consideration, PEth’s sensitivity for detecting excessive alcohol consumption was 100% (10 ng/ml) and 94% (210 ng/ml) and CDT’s was 88% (1.7%) and 75% (2.5%).
In individuals of the investigated cohort unusually high concentrations of the alcohol consumption markers PEth and CDT were quantified, which proves the assumption of chronic excessive alcohol consumption in parts of the cohort. PEth was the marker that was positive most often and was more sensitive for excessive alcohol consumption than CDT.
•in the cohort of homeless persons very high concentrations of PEth and CDT were found.•PEth and CDT correlated well.•But some discrepancies occurred considering excessive alcohol consumption.•50% stating no/occasional consumption, had PEth/CDT>cut-off for excessive drinking.•PEth’s sensitivity for excessive alcohol consumption was higher than CDT’s.
We have investigated the unidirectional spin wave heat conveyer effect in sub-micron thick yttrium iron garnet (YIG) films using lock-in thermography (LIT). Although the effect is small in thin ...layers this technique allows us to observe asymmetric heat transport by magnons which leads to asymmetric temperature profiles differing by several mK on both sides of the exciting antenna, respectively. Comparison of Damon-Eshbach and backward volume modes shows that the unidirectional heat flow is indeed due to non-reciprocal spin-waves. Because of the finite linewidth, small asymmetries can still be observed when only the uniform mode of ferromagnetic resonance is excited. The latter is of extreme importance for example when measuring the inverse spin-Hall effect because the temperature differences can result in thermovoltages at the contacts. Because of the non-reciprocity these thermovoltages reverse their sign with a reversal of the magnetic field which is typically deemed the signature of the inverse spin-Hall voltage.
The market for plant-based milk alternatives has been growing continuously within the last years, and numerous new food items including almond, oat, and soy milk are nowadays commercially available. ...The impact of said foods on the acid-base balance in humans has been rarely assessed but is of great importance for individuals who adopt an alkaline diet for health reasons. Using the Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL) score as a measurement of the amount of acid or base a certain food produces in the human body, we analyzed n = 39 plant-based milk items available on the German market. For this cross-sectional study, we used manufacturer-derived data and aimed to compare the PRAL values of different plant-based milks. The median PRAL score for all plant-based milk alternatives was −0.23 (2.14) mEq/100 ml, and indicated a slightly alkalizing potential. Soy milks yielded, on average, the lowest PRAL score (−1.11 ± 1.14 mEq/100 ml), whereas mixed milks were slightly acidifying (mean PRAL score: 0.19 ± 0.39 mEq/100 ml). When compared to the PRAL value of cow's milk, plant-based milk alternatives were slightly more alkaline. Our results allow for a better characterization of plant-based milk alternatives and are useful for individuals and researchers that aim to estimate the potential renal acid load from a growing group of food items.
Dietary fiber is of paramount importance in the prevention of large-bowel diseases, yet fiber intake in many high income countries is well below daily recommendations. Vegetarian diets high in ...fiber-rich plant-foods have been associated with a higher frequency of bowel movements and softer stools. Thus, vegetarians appear to suffer less frequently from constipation and other bowel disorders. The number of studies investigating these associations, however, is limited. The present study sought to investigate bowel health and constipation prevalence in a self-identified vegetarian population from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007−2010). Bowel health assessment included Bristol Stool Scale (BSS), Bowel Movement (BM) frequency and Fecal Incontinence Severity Index (FISI). The present study included 9531 non-vegetarians and 212 vegetarians. We found no associations between vegetarian status and all examined bowel health items (BM frequency, BSS and FISI). Vegetarians consumed significantly more fiber than omnivores (21.33 vs. 16.43 g/d, p < 0.001) but had a lower moisture intake (2811.15 vs. 3042.78 g/d, p = 0.045). The lack of an association of vegetarian status and bowel health is surprising, and may be a result of the relatively low fiber intake in this particular vegetarian cohort, which did not meet the daily fiber recommendations.
Grenzen strukturieren nicht nur die Ordnung von Landschaft und Herrschaft, sondern auch von Gesellschaft. Als soziale Konstrukte vereindeutigen sie Zustände, öffnen aber auch Räume für Aushandlungen ...und Überschreitungen. In der Moderne dienten praktische und metaphorische »Grenzgänge« dazu, Beziehungen, die Verhältnisse gesellschaftlicher Teilsysteme und die Reichweite von Normen zu klären. Die Beiträger*innen schauen auf die Denkfigur des »Grenzgangs«, die es ermöglicht, zentrale Fragen moderner Gesellschaften zusammenzudenken: Gewaltvolle Identitätskämpfe, der Umgang mit funktionaler Differenzierung und mit der Fragilität von Werten und Wissen offenbaren sich als Praktiken, mit denen Grenzen gezogen, überquert oder ausgehandelt wurden.
•Pulsed electric field treatment extracts cell-death inducing factor from C. vulgaris.•This putative cell-death inducing factor is heat-labile and dose-dependent.•Responsiveness to cell-death ...inducing factor depends on the cell cycle stage.•Proposed biochemical model: induction of programmed cell death (PCD).
Compared to mechanical extraction methods, pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment provides an energy-efficient and gentle alternative. However, the biological processes involved are poorly understood. The unicellular green microalga Chlorella vulgaris was used as model organism to investigate the effect of PEF treatment on biological cells. A viability assay using fluorescein diacetate measured by flow cytometry was established. The influence of developmental stage on viability could be shown in synchronised cultures when applying PEF treatment with very low specific energies where one part of cells undergoes cell death, and the other part stays viable after treatment. Reactive oxygen species generation after similar low-energy PEF treatment could be shown, indicating that PEFs could act as abiotic stress signal. Most importantly, a cell-death inducing factor could be extracted. A water-soluble extract derived from microalgae suspensions incubated for 24 h after PEF treatment caused the recipient microalgae to die, even though the recipient cells had not been subjected to PEF treatment directly. The working model assumes that low-energy PEF treatment induces programmed cell death in C.vulgaris while specifically releasing a cell-death inducing factor. Low-energy PEF treatment with subsequent incubation period could be a novel biotechnological strategy to extract soluble proteins and lipids in cascade process.
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