| 1. |
- Fowler, A. M., et al.
(author)
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Environmental benefits of leaving offshore infrastructure in the ocean
- 2018
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In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 1540-9295. ; 16:10, s. 571-578
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The removal of thousands of structures associated with oil and gas development from the world's oceans is well underway, yet the environmental impacts of this decommissioning practice remain unknown. Similar impacts will be associated with the eventual removal of offshore wind turbines. We conducted a global survey of environmental experts to guide best decommissioning practices in the North Sea, a region with a substantial removal burden. In contrast to current regulations, 94.7% of experts (36 out of 38) agreed that a more flexible case-by-case approach to decommissioning could benefit the North Sea environment. Partial removal options were considered to deliver better environmental outcomes than complete removal for platforms, but both approaches were equally supported for wind turbines. Key considerations identified for decommissioning were biodiversity enhancement, provision of reef habitat, and protection from bottom trawling, all of which are negatively affected by complete removal. We provide recommendations to guide the revision of offshore decommissioning policy, including a temporary suspension of obligatory removal.
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| 2. |
- Basset-Sagarminaga, J., et al.
(author)
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Replacing Foods with a High-Glycemic Index and High in Saturated Fat by Alternatives with a Low Glycemic Index and Low Saturated Fat Reduces Hepatic Fat, Even in Isocaloric and Macronutrient Matched Conditions
- 2023
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In: Nutrients. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6643. ; 15:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Current guidelines aim to limit the dietary glycemic index (GI) and intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA). Several studies have shown favorable effects of low-GI or low-SFA diets on intrahepatic lipid content (IHL), but these studies were performed under overfeeding conditions or extreme differences in GI or SFA to maximize the contrast between diets. By combining changes in GI and SFA, we can mimic how people can improve their diet in a realistic setting. Objectives: We investigated the effect on liver fat content and substrate metabolism of both reducing GI and replacing SFA with polyunsaturated fat in practically realistic amounts under isocaloric conditions. Design and Methods: In a randomized crossover study, thirteen overweight participants consumed two diets, one high in GI and SFA (high GI/SFA) and one low in GI and SFA (low GI/SFA) with identical macronutrient composition, for two weeks each. Diets were equal in caloric content, consisted of habitual food items, and had a macronutrient composition that can be easily achieved in daily life. At the end of each intervention, IHL content/composition and liver glycogen were measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Additionally, fasted and postprandial hepatic de novo lipogenesis and glycemic and metabolic responses were investigated. Results: IHL was significantly lower (-28%) after the two-week low-GI/SFA diet (2.4 +/- 0.5% 95% CI [1.4, 3.4]) than after the two-week high-GI/SFA diet (3.3 +/- 0.6% 95% CI [1.9, 4.7], p < 0.05). Although hepatic glycogen content, hepatic de novo lipogenesis, hepatic lipid composition, and substrate oxidation during the night were similar between the two diets, the glycemic response to the low-GI/SFA diet was reduced (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Changes in macronutrient quality can already have drastic effects on liver fat content and postprandial glycemia after two weeks and even when energy content and the percentage of total fat and carbohydrate remains unchanged.
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| 3. |
- Scholte, Robert, et al.
(author)
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Does the Size of the Effect of Adverse Events at High Ages on Daily-Life Physical Functioning Depend on the Economic Conditions Around Birth?
- 2017
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In: Health Economics. - : Wiley. - 1057-9230 .- 1099-1050. ; 26:1, s. 86-103
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper considers determinants of physical functional limitations in daily-life activities at high ages. Specifically, we quantify the extent to which the impact of adverse life events on this outcome is larger in case of exposure to adverse economic conditions early in life. Adverse life events include bereavement, severe illness in the family, and the onset of chronic diseases. We use a longitudinal data set of individuals born in the first decades of the 20th century. The business cycle around birth is used as an indicator of economic conditions early in life. We find that the extent to which functional limitations suffer from the onset of chronic diseases is larger if the individual was born in a recession. The long-run effect of economic conditions early in life on functional limitations at high ages runs primarily via this life event.
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| 4. |
- van den Berg, Gerard J., et al.
(author)
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The Role of Early-Life Conditions in the Cognitive Decline due to Adverse Events Later in Life
- 2010
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In: Economic Journal. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0013-0133 .- 1468-0297. ; 120:548, s. F411-F428
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Serious life events, such as the loss of a relative or the onset of a chronic condition may influence cognitive functioning. We examine whether the cognitive impact of such events is stronger if conditions very early in life were adverse, using Dutch longitudinal data of older persons. We exploit exogenous variation in early-life conditions as generated by the business cycle.
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