Odorous emissions of synthetic turf and its relationship with local communities.

Synthetic turf has been a mainstay of field sports and local communities for decades, and in that time, has faced both community and government pressure to ensure its safety and fitness for purpose. Considerable research and regulations have been applied to synthetic turf with regards to its safety, construction, potential toxicity, sports impact, as well as environmental considerations. However, very little attention has been paid to reports of odorous impacts from synthetic turf fields. This is problematic as odours are both a source of most complaints by communities towards other industries, as well as the fact that synthetic turf has a unique placement within communities themselves. It is wholly possible that the concerns surrounding synthetic turf are being modulated by the odours that the fields themselves produce through previously identified psychological mechanisms. As a result, ensuring good standards for synthetic turf with regards to odorous emissions should be benchmarked for community acceptability. This review investigates prior research into synthetic turf with regards to identified volatile organic compounds emitted, as well as proposing the means by which community stakeholders engage with synthetic turf, as well as how they should be consulted. From here, this review provides trajectories for future research within this space, and how regulatory bodies should address potential issues. This research space is currently in its infancy and therefore information relating to synthetic turf odour factors must be carefully considered.

Current data processing methods and reporting standards for untargeted analysis of volatile organic compounds using direct mass spectrometry: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Untargeted direct mass spectrometric analysis of volatile organic compounds has many potential applications across fields such as healthcare and food safety. However, robust data processing protocols must be employed to ensure that research is replicable and practical applications can be realised. User-friendly data processing and statistical tools are becoming increasingly available; however, the use of these tools have neither been analysed, nor are they necessarily suited for every data type. OBJECTIVES: This review aims to analyse data processing and analytic workflows currently in use and examine whether methodological reporting is sufficient to enable replication. METHODS: Studies identified from Web of Science and Scopus databases were systematically examined against the inclusion criteria. The experimental, data processing, and data analysis workflows were reviewed for the relevant studies. RESULTS: From 459 studies identified from the databases, a total of 110 met the inclusion criteria. Very few papers provided enough detail to allow all aspects of the methodology to be replicated accurately, with only three meeting previous guidelines for reporting experimental methods. A wide range of data processing methods were used, with only eight papers (7.3%) employing a largely similar workflow where direct comparability was achievable. CONCLUSIONS: Standardised workflows and reporting systems need to be developed to ensure research in this area is replicable, comparable, and held to a high standard. Thus, allowing the wide-ranging potential applications to be realised.

Direct analysis of volatile organic compounds in foods by headspace extraction atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE: The rapid screening of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by direct analysis has potential applications in the areas of food and flavour science. Currently, the technique of choice for VOC analysis is gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). However, the long chromatographic run times and elaborate sample preparation associated with this technique have led a movement towards direct analysis techniques, such as selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS), proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) and electronic noses. The work presented here describes the design and construction of a Venturi jet-pump-based modification for a compact mass spectrometer which enables the direct introduction of volatiles for qualitative and quantitative analysis. METHODS: Volatile organic compounds were extracted from the headspace of heated vials into the atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source of a quadrupole mass spectrometer using a Venturi pump. Samples were analysed directly with no prior sample preparation. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to differentiate between different classes of samples. RESULTS: The interface is shown to be able to routinely detect problem analytes such as fatty acids and biogenic amines without the requirement of a derivatisation step, and is shown to be able to discriminate between four different varieties of cheese with good intra and inter-day reproducibility using an unsupervised PCA model. Quantitative analysis is demonstrated using indole standards with limits of detection and quantification of 0.395 µg/mL and 1.316 µg/mL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The described methodology can routinely detect highly reactive analytes such as volatile fatty acids and diamines without the need for a derivatisation step or lengthy chromatographic separations. The capability of the system was demonstrated by discriminating between different varieties of cheese and monitoring the spoilage of meats.

Regional and global left ventricular function following a simulated 5 km race in sports-trained adolescents.

The effects of a short, high-intensity bout of exercise on cardiac systolic and diastolic function are not well understood in adolescent athletes. Consequently, the aims of the study were to evaluate global left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function, as well as segmental wall motion responses (cardiac strain), prior to as well as 45 and 225 min following a simulated 5 km cross-country race. Twenty trained, adolescent males (age: 15.2 ± 0.7 years) volunteered for exercise testing. LV fractional shortening and the ratio of early (E) and late (A) peak flow velocities reflected global systolic and diastolic function, respectively. Peak longitudinal mitral annular septal tissue velocities were also determined during systole and diastole. Longitudinal strain (ε) and strain rates were determined across the LV. LV fractional shortening was significantly (P < 0.05) higher at 225 min post-race (37.6 ± 5.8%) compared to pre-race (34.5 ± 4.7%) and 45 min post-race (34.9 ± 5.4 %). This difference was abolished after adjusting for post-race heart rates. There was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the E:A ratio at both 45 min (2.04 ± 0.57) and 225 min post-race (2.20 ± 0.66) compared to the pre-race value (2.80 ± 0.68). When these data were adjusted for post-race heart rates, these pre-post-race differences in E:A ratio were abolished. There were no significant alterations in either tissue Doppler velocities or longitudinal ε. The evidence suggests that a 5 km race does not lead to any significant post-exercise attenuation in global or regional LV systolic and diastolic function in trained adolescents.

Comparative effects of caffeine and albuterol on the bronchoconstrictor response to exercise in asthmatic athletes.

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the comparative and additive effects of caffeine and albuterol (short-acting beta (2)-agonist) on the severity of EIB. Ten asthmatic subjects with EIB (exercise-induced bronchoconstriction) participated in a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy crossover study. One hour before an exercise challenge, each subject was given 0, 3, 6, or 9 mg/kg of caffeine or placebo mixed in a flavored sugar drink. Fifteen minutes before the exercise bout, an inhaler containing either albuterol (180 microg) or placebo was administered to each subject. Pulmonary function tests were conducted pre- and post-exercise. Caffeine at a dose of 6 and 9 mg/kg significantly reduced (p<0.05) the mean maximum % fall in post-exercise FEV (1) to -9.0+/-9.2% and -6.8+/-6.5% respectively compared to the double-placebo (-14.3+/-11.1%) and baseline (-18.4+/-7.2%). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the post-exercise % fall in FEV (1) between albuterol ( PLUS CAFFEINE PLACEBO) (-4.0+/-5.2%) and the 9 mg/kg dose of caffeine (-6.8+/-6.5%). Interestingly, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the post-exercise % fall in FEV (1) between albuterol ( PLUS CAFFEINE PLACEBO) (-4.0+/-5.2%) and albuterol with 3, 6 or 9 mg/kg of caffeine (-4.4+/-3.8, -6.8+/-5.6, -4.4+/-6.0% respectively). Similar changes were observed for the post-exercise % fall in FVC, FEF (25-75%) and PEF. These data indicate that moderate (6 mg/kg) to high doses (9 mg/kg) of caffeine provide a significant protective effect against EIB. It is feasible that the negative effects of daily use of short-acting beta (2)-agonists by asthmatic athletes could be reduced simply by increasing caffeine consumption prior to exercise.

Inspiratory flow resistive loading improves respiratory muscle function and endurance capacity in recreational runners.

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of inspiratory flow resistive loading (IFRL) on respiratory muscle function, exercise performance and cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses to exercise. Twenty-four recreational road runners (12 male) were randomly assigned from each gender into an IFRL group (n=8) and sham-IFRL group (n=8), which performed IFRL for 6 weeks, or a control group (n=8). Strength (+43.9%Delta), endurance (+26.6%Delta), maximum power output (+41.9%Delta) and work capacity (+38.5%Delta) of the inspiratory muscles were significantly increased (P<0.05) at rest following the study period in IFRL group only. In addition, ventilation (-25.7%Delta), oxygen consumption (-13.3%Delta), breathing frequency (-11.9%Delta), tidal volume (-16.0%Delta), heart rate (HR) (-13.1%Delta), blood lactate concentration (-38.9%Delta) and the perceptual response (-33.5%Delta) to constant workload exercise were significantly attenuated (P<0.05), concomitant with a significant improvement (P<0.05) in endurance exercise capacity (+16.4%Delta) during a treadmill run set at 80% VO2max in IFRL group only. These data suggest that IFRL can alter breathing mechanics, attenuate the oxygen cost, ventilation, HR, blood lactate and the perceptual response during constant workload exercise and improve endurance exercise performance in recreational runners.

Comparative effects of a high-intensity interval warm-up and salbutamol on the bronchoconstrictor response to exercise in asthmatic athletes.

Approximately half of all asthmatics become refractory to exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) with repeated challenges. Exercise refractoriness has been utilized by asthmatic athletes to reduce the bronchoconstrictor response to exercise prior to competition, and this has led to the observation that some asthmatic athletes can "run through" their asthma. The main aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of short high-intensity, repeated warm-ups compared with salbutamol (a commonly used inhaled beta (2)-agonist) on the severity of EIB. Eight moderately trained (.VO(2peak), 51.9 +/- 2.3 ml . kg (-1) . min (-1)) recreational asthmatic athletes with documented EIB were tested under 4 experimental conditions: 1) control (CON) condition; 2) an interval warm-up (WU) consisting of 8 x 30-sec runs at peak treadmill speed, with 45-sec recovery between each sprint; 3) inhaling 200 microg of salbutamol (Ventolin, GlaxoSmithKline, Uxbridge, Middlesex, U.K.) (IH); and 4) combining both the WU and IH session. All 4 experimental sessions were followed by an exercise challenge test (85-90 % predicted maximum heart rate for 8 min). Pulmonary function was measured pre-exercise and at 1, 5, 10, 15 min postexercise. The mean maximum percent fall in pre- to postexercise forced expiratory volume in 1-sec (FEV (1)) for all 8 asthmatic subjects during the EIB screening test (CON session) was - 18.25 +/- 4.01 %. The mean maximum percent decrease in postexercise FEV (1) significantly decreased (p < 0.05) to only - 9.1 +/- 0.6 % following the WU condition, which is below the EIB diagnostic threshold of a 10 % fall in postexercise FEV (1). The IH and WU + IH condition resulted in a substantial postexercise bronchodilation as shown by a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the mean maximum percent change in postexercise FEV (1) following the IH (+ 8.9 +/- 6.1 %) and WU + IH (+ 15.2 +/- 4.6 %) condition. Similar changes as a result of experimental condition were observed for FEF (25-75 %). These data indicate that repeated high-intensity warm-ups can lessen the bronchoconstrictor response to exercise. In addition, combining the interval warm-up with salbutamol prior to exercise resulted in substantial bronchodilation and conferred a greater protective effect against developing EIB than either intervention alone.