Dominic Notter

Abstract: 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. Economic growth offsets efficiency gains, while strategies for energy sufficiency are usually not seriously considered. Action toward a more sustainable society, for example, a 2000 W- and 1 ton CO2-society, must be taken by individuals but further incentives must be set. In order to provide individuals with detailed information about their mitigation options, we took the results from a survey of environmental behavior of 3369 Swiss Citizens, and combined them with life cycle assessment. Our results from this bottom-up approach show a huge bandwidth of the ecological footprints among the individuals interviewed. We conclude that a continuous consumption of not more than 2000 W per person seems possible for the major part of the population in this society. However, it will be far more difficult not to exceed 1 ton CO2 per capita.

Abstract: 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). Consequently, a detailed lifecycle inventory of a Li-ion battery and a rough LCA of BEV based mobility were compiled. The study shows that the environmental burdens of mobility are dominated by the operation phase regardless of whether a gasoline-fueled ICEV or a European electricity fueled BEV is used. The share of the total environmental impact of E-mobility caused by the battery (measured in Ecoindicator 99 points) is 15%. The impact caused by the extraction of lithium for the components of the Li-ion battery is less than 2.3% (Ecoindicator 99 points). The major contributor to the environmental burden caused by the battery is the supply of copper and aluminum for the production of the anode and the cathode, plus the required cables or the battery management system. This study provides a sound basis for more detailed environmental assessments of battery based E-mobility.

Abstract: 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. RM fatigue during intermittent hyperpnoea was assessed by twitch oesophageal (P(oes,tw)) and gastric pressures with cervical and thoracic magnetic stimulation. Respiratory sensations (visual analogue scale, 0-10) and blood lactate concentrations ([La]) were assessed during hyperpnoea. RMET increased maximal voluntary ventilation while IMT increased maximal inspiratory pressure. Both RMET and IMT increased vital capacity and RM endurance, but only RMET improved the development of inspiratory muscle fatigue (from -31% to -21% P(oes,tw)), perception of respiratory exertion (4.2+/-0.1 to 2.3+/-2.3 points) and [La] (1.8+/-0.4 to 1.3+/-0.3 mmol l(-1)) during hyperpnoea. Whether these specific RMET-induced adaptations observed during hyperpnoea would translate into greater improvements in exercise performance compared to IMT remains to be investigated.

Abstract: 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.e., at 25.3+/-4.7min). P(di,tw) decreased during the first 16min (-28+/-7%, p<0.001) and P(ga,tw) during the first 8min (-20+/-7%, p<0.001) of hyperpnoea without further change until task failure. During inspiration, the pressure-time-product of oesophageal pressure (PTP(oes)) increased relative to PTP(di) during the first 16min (+11+/-21%, p<0.05). Similarly, during expiration, PTP(oes) increased relative to PTP(ga) during the first 8min (+10+/-16%, p<0.05). Also, blood lactate concentration and respiratory sensations significantly increased during the first 8min (+1.0+/-0.5mmoll(-1), p<0.001) and 16min (breathlessness +1.6+/-1.8 points, respiratory effort +5.9+/-2.2points, p<0.001), respectively. We conclude that, during hyperpnoea, contractile fatigue of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles develops long before task failure and may trigger an increased recruitment of rib cage muscles.

Abstract: Inspiratory muscle fatigue (IMF) can develop during exhaustive exercise and cause tachypnea or rapid shallow breathing. We assessed the effects of rib cage muscle (RCM-F) and diaphragm fatigue (DIA-F) on breathing pattern and respiratory mechanics during high-intensity endurance exercise. Twelve healthy subjects performed a constant-load (85% maximal power) cycling test to exhaustion with prior IMF and a cycling test of similar intensity and duration without prior IMF (control). IMF was induced by resistive breathing and assessed by oesophageal and gastric twitch pressure measurements during cervical magnetic stimulation. Both RCM-F and DIA-F increased RCM and abdominal muscle force production during exercise compared to control. With RCM-F, tidal volume decreased while it increased with DIA-F. RCM-F was associated with a smaller increase in end-expiratory oesophageal pressure (i.e. decrease in lung volume) than DIA-F. These results suggest that RCM-F and not DIA-F is associated with rapid shallow breathing and that lowering the operating lung volume with DIA-F may help to preserve diaphragmatic function.

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