Affect Energy Expenditure Research Articles

Sex-specific role of high-fat diet and stress on behavior, energy metabolism, and the ventromedial hypothalamus

BackgroundScientific evidence highlights the influence of biological sex on the relationship between stress and metabolic dysfunctions. However, there is limited understanding of how diet and stress concurrently contribute to metabolic dysregulation in both males and females. Our study aimed to investigate the combined effects of high-fat diet (HFD) induced obesity and repeated stress on fear-related behaviors, metabolic, immune, and hypothalamic outcomes in male and female mice.MethodsTo investigate this, we used a highly reliable rodent behavioral model that faithfully recapitulates key aspects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-like fear. We subjected mice to footshock stressor followed by a weekly singular footshock stressor or no stressor for 14 weeks while on either an HFD or chow diet. At weeks 10 and 14 we conducted glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity measurements. Additionally, we placed the mice in metabolic chambers to perform indirect calorimetric measurements. Finally, we collected brain and peripheral tissues for cellular analysis.ResultsWe observed that HFD-induced obesity disrupted fear memory extinction, increased glucose intolerance, and affected energy expenditure specifically in male mice. Conversely, female mice on HFD exhibited reduced respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and a significant defect in glucose tolerance only when subjected to repeated stress. Furthermore, the combination of repeated stress and HFD led to sex-specific alterations in proinflammatory markers and hematopoietic stem cells across various peripheral metabolic tissues. Single-nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNAseq) analysis of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) revealed microglial activation in female mice on HFD, while male mice on HFD exhibited astrocytic activation under repeated stress.ConclusionsOverall, our findings provide insights into complex interplay between repeated stress, high-fat diet regimen, and their cumulative effects on health, including their potential contribution to the development of PTSD-like stress and metabolic dysfunctions, emphasizing the need for further research to fully understand these interconnected pathways and their implications for health.

BCAA-nitrogen flux in brown fat controls metabolic health independent of thermogenesis

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is best known for thermogenesis. Rodent studies demonstrated that enhanced BAT thermogenesis is tightly associated with increased energy expenditure, reduced body weight, and improved glucose homeostasis. However, human BAT is protective against type 2 diabetes, independent of body weight. The mechanism underlying this dissociation remains unclear. Here, we report that impaired mitochondrial catabolism of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in BAT, by deleting mitochondrial BCAA carriers (MBCs), caused systemic insulin resistance without affecting energy expenditure and body weight. Brown adipocytes catabolized BCAA in the mitochondria as nitrogen donors for the biosynthesis of non-essential amino acids and glutathione. Impaired mitochondrial BCAA-nitrogen flux in BAT resulted in increased oxidative stress, decreased hepatic insulin signaling, and decreased circulating BCAA-derived metabolites. A high-fat diet attenuated BCAA-nitrogen flux and metabolite synthesis in BAT, whereas cold-activated BAT enhanced the synthesis. This work uncovers a metabolite-mediated pathway through which BAT controls metabolic health beyond thermogenesis.

Association between basal metabolic rate and cardio-metabolic risk factors: Evidence from a Mendelian Randomization study

BackgroundCardio-metabolic risk factors play a crucial role in the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is a fundamental physiological parameter that affects energy expenditure and might contribute to variations in these risk factors. However, the exact relationship between BMR and cardio-metabolic risk factors has remained unclear. MethodsWe employed Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis to explore the association between BMR (N: 534,045) and various cardio-metabolic risk factors, including body mass index (BMI, N: 681,275), fasting glucose (N: 200,622), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (N = 403,943), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (N = 431,167), total cholesterol (N: 344,278), and triglycerides (N: 441,016), C-reactive protein (N: 436,939), waist circumference (N: 232,101), systolic blood pressure (N: 810,865), diastolic blood pressure (N: 810,865), glycated haemoglobin (N: 389,889), and N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (N: 21,758). We leveraged genetic variants strongly associated with BMR as instrumental variables to investigate potential causal relationships, with the primary analysis using the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) method. ResultsOur MR analysis revealed compelling evidence of a causal link between BMR and specific cardio-metabolic risk factors. Specifically, genetically determined higher BMR was associated with an increased BMI (β = 0.7538, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6418 to 0.8659, p < 0.001), lower levels of HDL cholesterol (β = −0.3293, 95% CI: 0.4474 to −0.2111, p < 0.001), higher levels of triglycerides (β = 0.1472, 95% CI: 0.0370 to 0.2574, p = 0.0088), waist circumference (β = 0.4416, 95% CI: 0.2949 to 0.5883, p < 0.001), and glycated haemoglobin (β = 0.1037, 95% CI: 0.0080 to 0.1995, p = 0.0377). However, we did not observe any significant association between BMR and fasting glucose, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, C-reactive protein, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, or N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (all p-values>0.05). ConclusionThis MR study provides valuable insights into the relationship between BMR and cardio-metabolic risk factors. Understanding the causal links between BMR and these factors could have important implications for the development of targeted interventions and therapies.

Are resting metabolic rate and clinical symptoms affected by variation of serum thyroid stimulating hormone levels within the normal range in healthy and women with hypothyroidism? A case–control study

BackgroundIt is unclear whether variation in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels within the reference range affect energy expenditure and clinical symptoms and even within the normal range of TSH levels, resting energy expenditure may alter. The aim of the present study was to determine whether treated hypothyroid subjects and healthy subjects with a low-normal TSH range (0.3–2.3 mIU/L) have better clinical outcomes and increased energy expenditure than those with a high-normal TSH range (2.3–4.3 mIU/L). MethodsThis was a case-control study of 160 overweight/obese women with TSH levels across the reference range of 0.3-4.3 mU/l. Subjects were paired in four groups: healthy subjects with low-normal target TSH (n =40), healthy subjects with high-normal target TSH (n =40), subjects with treated hypothyroidism with low-normal target TSH (n =40), and subjects with treated hypothyroidism with high-normal target TSH (n =40). Resting energy expenditure (RMR), dietary intake, body composition, physical activity, and biochemical markers were assessed. ResultsSubjects with low-normal (≤2.3 mU/L) and high-normal (>2.3 mU/L) TSH levels did not differ in terms of RMR, serum T3 levels, and clinical symptoms except fatigue (P=0.013). However, serum fT4 levels were found to be significantly different between the study groups (P=0.002). Serum fT4 concentration was the highest in subjects with treated hypothyroidism with low-normal target TSH. ConclusionVariation in serum TSH levels within the reference range did not significantly affect REE and clinical symptoms except fatigue in healthy and women with hypothyroidism.

Body Mass Index and Thyroid Function Tests in Male Adults in Mosul City

The relationship between thyroid gland and body mass index (BMI) is a subject of growing interest. Thyroid hormones' impact on metabolism directly affects energy expenditure which is in turn affect weight balance.&#x0D; Subjects and Method: This study occurred in Mosul city in the north of Iraq, between December 2022 - June 2023, and it comprised one hundred adult males ranging in age from 20 - 60 years. Participants had to be apparently healthy men with appropriate thyroid functions, according to the inclusion criteria. Individuals who used specific medicines known for altering thyroid functions were excluded, those who have positive anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (ATPO), a personal or familial history of thyroid diseases, and medical illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiac, renal, and liver diseases. The thyroid parameters that’s measured to the subjects were triiodothyronine (FT3), thyroxine (FT4) using immuno-enzymatic competitive assays and Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) by two-site immuno-enzymatic (sandwich) method.&#x0D; Results: found no significant relationships between BMI and other thyroid function FT3 no significant increase TSH, on the contrary increased across BMI classes, moreover FT4 decreased.&#x0D; Conclusion: this work showed that the thyroid function of the different BMI groups under investigation showed no significant change.

Resting metabolic rate is increased after a series of whole body vibration in young men

Resting metabolic rate (RMR) is the largest component of total energy expenditure and increasing it can be of great importance in reducing excess body fatness. Whole body vibration (WBV) can affect energy expenditure during single session of WBV, but the effects of repeated WBV on resting metabolic rate have not been reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a series of WBV would increase resting metabolism in young men. Thirty-two healthy men aged of 21–23 were recruited and randomly assigned to two 16-member groups: a group participating in the WBV intervention and a group without the intervention. The intervention lasted 2 weeks and WBV was performed 5 times a week. Diet, physical activity, body composition and resting metabolic rate were analyzed in the participants. In WBV group significantly increased resting oxygen uptake (p = 0.049) and consequently RMR (p = 0.035) after the intervention. Similar changes were not observed in the control group. This indicates that applied type of vibration in this study can be an addition to obesity therapy, in which, WBV can, among other beneficial metabolic effects, increase RMR and thus total energy expenditure.

How do fluctuating temperatures alter the cost of development?

Abstract Quantifying how variable temperature regimes affect energy expenditure during development is crucial for understanding how future thermal regimes may impact early life survival and population persistence. Developmental cost theory (DCT) suggests that there is an optimal temperature (Topt) that minimises energy expenditure during development (the ‘cost of development‘). Exposure to fluctuating temperatures around an average of Topt is anticipated to increase either development time or metabolic rate. As a result, embryos will rapidly deplete yolk reserves, and consequently hatch at a smaller size or with less residual yolk to support postnatal survival and growth. Here, we studied total embryonic energy expenditure (development time and rate of CO2 production) and conversion of yolk into tissue in common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis) under three incubation treatments anticipated, based on DCT, to increase the cost of development: no variance (Topt constant, 24°C), low variance (22°C–26°C) and high variance (18°C–30°C). As predicted, we found that increasing variance around Topt increased the cost of development, despite reducing time to hatching. As a consequence, embryos on average hatched with 59% lower residual yolk reserves under high variance versus the constant incubation temperature treatment. Our results highlight how the relative temperature sensitivities of development time and metabolic rate determine the cost of development, which in turn may predict the ability of egg‐laying ectotherms to persist in variable environments. We show that DCT can provide a mechanistic framework for understanding the widespread, but often seemingly idiosyncratic, effects of fluctuating incubation temperatures on hatchling tissue and residual yolk mass. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Nutritional Strategies to Optimize Outcomes among Infants with Congenital Heart Disease.

Growth failure is common among infants with congenital heart disease (CHD), affecting approximately half of all infants with CHD. Achieving good growth is difficult secondary to both cardiac and noncardiac factors that affect energy expenditure and nutritional intake. Growth failure is associated with poor outcomes, including mortality, prolonged length of hospital stay, delayed cardiac surgery, postoperative complications, and neurodevelopmental delay. Clinical practice varies widely when it comes to how nutrition is managed in these infants, with varying approaches to enteral feeding initiation, advancement, and discontinuation. This variation persists despite several practice guidelines that have been created in recent years to guide nutritional care. Standardized feeding protocols have been proven to reduce growth failure and improve outcomes for this patient population. Centers and clinicians should be encouraged to adopt existing guidelines, or create their own from evidence-based literature, to improve growth and outcomes for infants with CHD.

Timing of food intake affects energy expenditure.

Timing of food intake affects energy expenditure.

Deep dives and high tissue density increase mean dive costs in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus).

Diving is central to the foraging strategies of many marine mammals and seabirds. Still, the effect of dive depth on foraging cost remains elusive because energy expenditure is difficult to measure at fine temporal scales in wild animals. We used depth and acceleration data from eight lactating California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) to model body density and investigate the effect of dive depth and tissue density on rates of energy expenditure. We calculated body density in 5 s intervals from the rate of gliding descent. We modeled body density across depth in each dive, revealing high tissue densities and diving lung volumes (DLVs). DLV increased with dive depth in four individuals. We used the buoyancy calculated from dive-specific body-density models and drag calculated from swim speed to estimate metabolic power and cost of transport in 5 s intervals during descents and ascents. Deeper dives required greater mean power for round-trip vertical transit, especially in individuals with higher tissue density. These trends likely follow from increased mean swim speed and buoyant hinderance that increasingly outweighs buoyant aid in deeper dives. This suggests that deep diving is either a 'high-cost, high-reward' strategy or an energetically expensive option to access prey when prey in shallow waters are limited, and that poor body condition may increase the energetic costs of deep diving. These results add to our mechanistic understanding of how foraging strategy and body condition affect energy expenditure in wild breath-hold divers.

Exploring the effects of adiponectin and leptin in correlating obesity with cognitive decline: a systematic review.

Obesity and cognitive decline including dementia and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) affect millions worldwide. Several studies have shown that obese individuals suffer from cognitive decline. Here, we suggest that adiponectin and leptin, protein hormones secreted by white adipose tissue explain the relationship between obesity and cognitive decline. We systematically searched PubMed and World Health Organization (WHO) websites with the keywords obesity and dementia and compiled literature that explains how adiponectin and leptin impact obesity and cognitive decline. Full-text, free-access articles on PubMed published after 2009 have been included. Whereas articles published before 2009, books, and reports were excluded. We concentrated on mechanisms via which adiponectin and leptin affect energy expenditure, fatty acid catabolism, satiety, hunger, Body Mass Index (BMI), neurogenesis, and brain structures that lead to the development of cognitive dysfunction. Moreover, we hypothesized that adiponectin and leptin hormones explain how obesity and dementia are connected. After compiling the research studies, we summarized that adiponectin and leptin negatively correlate to BMI. Adiponectin arbitrates energy expenditure and fatty acid catabolism to prevent obesity. In the presence of adiponectin, hippocampal cells proliferate, whereas neurogenesis is reduced in its absence. However, leptin prevents obesity by promoting satiety, reducing hunger, and increasing insulin sensitivity. It also has neuroprotective effects thus reducing the risk of developing cognitive decline. So, physical exercise, diet alteration, weight reduction, adiponectin, and leptin supplementation should be carried out to protect against obesity-induced cognitive decline. Therefore, further research studies should be done in this area.

Influence of temperature on respiratory metabolism during early development of Totoaba macdonaldi

Environmental temperature can act as a positive or negative modulator of the physiology and metabolism of poikilothermic organisms. As a general rule, larvae and juveniles are more sensitive to temperature stress than adults, which represents a key factor that partly determines their development and growth in aquaculture. Therefore, this study analyzed the effect of exposure to temperatures of 21, 24, and 27°C on the respiratory metabolism (RM) of Totoaba macdonaldi in different developmental stages. For this purpose, eggs, larvae with 4, 6, 8, 14, and 22 days post-hatch (dph), and juveniles of 25 dph were exposed to the experimental temperatures for 5 h. After the exposure time, oxygen consumption measurements were performed. The results clearly show that temperature (21 to 27°C) has the greatest effect on RM in eggs and larvae at 4 and 22 dph (3.1 ± 0.3 to 4.3 ± 0.3 μmol O2 h-1 egg-1, 2.9 ± 0.3 to 10.5 ± 1.2 μmol O2 h-1 larvae-1 and 102.0 ± 6.4 to 189.8 ± 15.3 μmol O2 h-1 larvae-1, respectively). This thermal sensitivity was not observed from 6, 8, and 14 dph larvae and juveniles at 25 dph, where morphological development was the main factor that influencing the RM. Therefore, this study shows that temperature affects RM in different development stages of totoaba, beginning in the egg stage and intensifying once the larvae hatch until 22 dph. Understanding how temperature affects energy expenditure by measuring RM is essential to establish culture conditions that allow better physiological performance and growth in the early life stages of T. macdonaldi.

Finding balance: understanding the energetics of time-restricted feeding in mice.

Over the course of mammalian evolution, the ability to store energy likely conferred a survival advantage when food became scarce. A long-term increase in energy storage results from an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure, two tightly regulated parameters that generally balance out to maintain a fairly stable body weight. Understanding the molecular determinants of this feat likely holds the key to new therapeutic development to manage obesity and associated metabolic dysfunctions. Time-restricted feeding (TRF), a dietary intervention that limits feeding to the active phase, can prevent and treat obesity and metabolic dysfunction in rodents fed a high-fat diet, likely by exerting effects on energetic balance. Even when body weight is lower in mice on active-phase TRF, food intake is generally isocaloric as compared with ad libitum fed controls. This discrepancy between body weight and energy intake led to the hypothesis that energy expenditure is increased during TRF. However, at present, there is no consensus in the literature as to how TRF affects energy expenditure and energy balance as a whole, and the mechanisms behind metabolic adaptation under TRF are unknown. This review examines our current understanding of energy balance on TRF in rodents and provides a framework for future studies to evaluate the energetics of TRF and its molecular determinants.

Can capsaicinoids and their analogs affect energy expenditure and substrate oxidation during exercise? A systematic review with acute studies

Capsaicinoids and their analogs (CAP) are found in various types of peppers and have received great attention as weight management agents. An increase in energy expenditure and fat oxidation at rest, along with appetite and energy intake reduction has been reported. CAP supplementation has also been indicated to increase exercise performance. Another potential effect of CAP during exercise is to increase energy expenditure and fat oxidation. Thus, the present systematic review aimed to compare the energy expenditure (EE) and substrate oxidation during exercise with CAP administration, or placebo (no CAP administration), in acute studies. Ten studies met our inclusion criteria for EE, including one with mice. Only one study reported higher EE during exercise compared to non-CAP conditions. We found seven studies that met our inclusion criteria for substrate oxidation measurement during exercise. One study reported lower fat oxidation during CAP conditions, while two reported higher fat oxidation with CAP supplementation. From studies retrieved, some reported increased EE and fat oxidation at rest, which means that the effect of CAP at rest was not carried over into exercise. In conclusion, CAP seems not to be a potential ergogenic aid to affect EE considering the studies retrieved in this current review; however, inconsistent results have been reported regarding to substrate oxidation. Further research should clarify the effect of CAP on substrate oxidation during exercise. • Capsaicinoids and their analogs do not seem to affect energy expenditure during exercise. • Effect of capsaicinoids and their analogs on substrate oxidation during exercise presents conflicting outcomes. • Further studies on capsaicinoids and their analogs are needed manipulating type, dose and timing of administration. • Further studies on capsaicinoids and their analogs are needed in people with different body mass.

Don't stop me now: Managed fence gaps could allow migratory ungulates to track dynamic resources and reduce fence related energy loss

In semi-arid environments characterized by erratic rainfall and scattered primary production, migratory movements are a key survival strategy of large herbivores to track resources over vast areas. Veterinary Cordon Fences (VCFs), intended to reduce wildlife-livestock disease transmission, fragment large parts of southern Africa and have limited the movements of large wild mammals for over 60 years. Consequently, wildlife-fence interactions are frequent and often result in perforations of the fence, mainly caused by elephants. Yet, we lack knowledge about at which times fences act as barriers, how fences directly alter the energy expenditure of native herbivores, and what the consequences of impermeability are. We studied 2-year ungulate movements in three common antelopes (springbok, kudu, eland) across a perforated part of Namibia's VCF separating a wildlife reserve and Etosha National Park using GPS telemetry, accelerometer measurements, and satellite imagery. We identified 2905 fence interaction events which we used to evaluate critical times of encounters and direct fence effects on energy expenditure. Using vegetation type-specific greenness dynamics, we quantified what animals gained in terms of high quality food resources from crossing the VCF. Our results show that the perforation of the VCF sustains herbivore-vegetation interactions in the savanna with its scattered resources. Fence permeability led to peaks in crossing numbers during the first flush of woody plants before the rain started. Kudu and eland often showed increased energy expenditure when crossing the fence. Energy expenditure was lowered during the frequent interactions of ungulates standing at the fence. We found no alteration of energy expenditure when springbok immediately found and crossed fence breaches. Our results indicate that constantly open gaps did not affect energy expenditure, while gaps with obstacles increased motion. Closing gaps may have confused ungulates and modified their intended movements. While browsing, sedentary kudu's use of space was less affected by the VCF; migratory, mixed-feeding springbok, and eland benefited from gaps by gaining forage quality and quantity after crossing. This highlights the importance of access to vast areas to allow ungulates to track vital vegetation patches.

Light/dark phase influences intra-individual plasticity in maintenance metabolic rate and exploratory behavior independently in the Asiatic toad

BackgroundIt is well-known that light/dark phase can affect energy expenditure and behaviors of most organisms; however, its influences on individuality (inter-individual variance) and plasticity (intra-individual variance), as well as their associations remain unclear. To approach this question, we repeatedly measured maintenance metabolic rate (MR), exploratory and risk-taking behaviors across light/dark phase four times using wild-caught female Asiatic toads (Bufo gargarizans), and partitioned their variance components with univariate and bivariate mixed-effects models.ResultsThe group means of maintenance MR and risk-taking behavior increased at night, while the group mean of exploratory behavior remained constant throughout the day. At night, the intra-individual variances were elevated in maintenance MR but reduced in exploration, suggesting that phenotypic plasticity was enhanced in the former but constrained in the latter. In addition, maintenance MR was not coupled with exploratory or risk-taking behaviors in daytime or at night, neither at the inter-individual nor intra-individual levels.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that these traits are independently modulated by the light/dark phase, and an allocation energy management model may be applicable in this species. This study sheds new insights into how amphibians adapt nocturnal lifestyle across multiple hierarchy levels via metabolic and behavioral adjustments.

Serine active site containing protein 1 depletion alters lipid metabolism and protects against high fat diet-induced obesity in mice

ObjectiveAlthough the serine active site containing 1 (SERAC1) protein is essential for cardiolipin remodeling and cholesterol transfer, its physiological role in whole-body energy metabolism remains unclear. Thus, we investigated the role of SERAC1 in lipid distribution and metabolism in mice. MethodsCRISPR/Cas9 was used to create homozygous Serac1 knockout mice. A range of methods, including electron microscopy, histological analysis, DNA sequencing, glucose and insulin tolerance tests, and biochemical analysis of serum lipid levels, were used to assess lipid distribution and rates of lipid synthesis in mice. ResultsWe found that Serac1 depletion in mice prevented high-fat diet-induced obesity but did not affect energy expenditure. The liver was affected by Serac1 depletion, but adipose tissues were not. Serac1 depletion was shown to impair cholesterol transfer from the liver to the serum and led to an imbalance in cholesterol distribution. The livers from mice with Serac1 depletion showed increased cholesterol synthesis because the levels of cholesterol synthesis enzymes were upregulated. Moreover, the accumulation of hepatic lipid droplets in mice with Serac1 depletion were decreased, suggesting that SERAC1 depletion may decrease the risk for hepatic steatosis in high fat diet-induced mice. ConclusionOur findings demonstrate that SERAC1 can serve as a potential target for the treatment or prevention of diet-induced hepatic lipid metabolic disorders.

Leafcutter ants adjust foraging behaviours when exposed to noise disturbance.

We investigate the impact of anthropogenic noise on the foraging efficiency of leafcutter ants (Acromyrmex octospinosus) in a controlled laboratory experiment. Anthropogenic noise is a widespread, pervasive and increasing environmental pollutant and its negative impacts on animal fitness and behaviour have been well documented. Much of this evidence has come from studies concerning vertebrate species with very little evidence for terrestrial invertebrates, especially social living invertebrates. We compare movement speed, forage fragment size, and colony activity levels of ants exposed to intermittent elevated noise and in ambient noise conditions. We use intermittent and temporally unpredictable bursts of white noise produced from a vibration speaker to create the elevated noise profile. Ant movement speed increased under elevated noise conditions when travelling to collect forage material and when returning to the colony nest. The size of individually measured foraged material was significantly reduced under elevated noise conditions. Colony activity, the number of ants moving along the forage route, was not affected by elevated noise and was consistent throughout the foraging events. Increased foraging speed and smaller forage fragments suggests that the ants had to make more foraging trips over an extended period, which is likely to affect energy expenditure and increases exposure to predators. This is likely to have significant fitness impacts for the colony over time.

Acute Effects of Esports on the Cardiovascular System and Energy Expenditure in Amateur Esports Players.

IntroductionEsports is practiced by millions of people worldwide every day. On a professional level, esports has been proven to have a high stress potential and is sometimes considered equivalent to traditional sporting activities. While traditional sports have health-promoting effects through muscle activity and increased energy expenditure, amateur esports could represent a purely sedentary activity, which would carry potentially harmful effects when practiced regularly. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the acute effects of esports on the cardiovascular system and energy expenditure in amateur esports players to show whether esports can be considered as physical strain or mental stress or whether amateur esports has to be seen as purely sedentary behavior.MethodsThirty male subjects participated in a 30-min gaming session, playing the soccer simulation game FIFA 20 or the tactical, first-person multiplayer shooter Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Respiratory and cardiovascular parameters, as well as energy expenditure, blood glucose, lactate, and cortisol, were determined pre-, during, and post-gaming.ResultsThere were no significant changes in oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide output, energy expenditure, stroke volume, or lactate levels. Heart rate, blood glucose and cortisol decreased through the intervention until reaching their minimum levels 10 min post-gaming (Cortisolpre: 3.1 ± 2.9 ng/ml, Cortisolpost: 2.2 ± 2.3 ng/ml, p < 0.01; HRmin0.5: 82 ± 11 bpm, HRpost: 74 ± 13 bpm, p < 0.01).ConclusionA 30-min esports intervention does not positively affect energy expenditure or metabolism in amateur esports players. Therefore, it cannot provide the same health-promoting effects as traditional sports participation, but could in the long-term rather cause the same potentially health-damaging effects as purely sedentary behavior. However, it does not trigger a negative stress response in the players. Deliberate physical activity and exercise routines adapted to these demands should therefore be part of the daily life of amateur esports players.

Evaluating bat boxes: design and placement alter bioenergetic costs and overheating risk

Bat box microclimates vary spatially and temporally in temperature suitability. This heterogeneity subjects roosting bats to a variety of thermoregulatory challenges (e.g. heat and cold stress). Understanding how different bat box designs, landscape placements, weather and bat use affect temperature suitability and energy expenditure is critical to promote safe and beneficial artificial roosting habitat for species of conservation concern. From April to September 2019, we systematically deployed 480 temperature dataloggers among 40 rocket box style bat boxes of 5 designs and regularly monitored bat abundance. We used bioenergetic models to assess energy costs for endothermic and heterothermic bats and modelled the overheating risk for each box as a function of design, placement, bat abundance and weather. For endothermic bats, predicted daily energy expenditure was lower for solar-exposed placements, large group sizes and a box design with enhanced thermal mass. For heterothermic bats, shaded landscape placements were the most energetically beneficial and bat box design was not important, because all designs generally offered microclimates suitable for torpor use at some position within the box. Overheating risk was highest for solar-exposed landscape placements and for designs lacking modifications to buffer temperature, and with increasing bat abundance, increasing ambient temperature and slower wind speeds. The external water jacket design, with the greatest thermal mass, concomitantly decreased overheating risk and endothermic energy expenditure. By assessing bat box suitability from two physiological perspectives, we provide a robust method to assess the conservation value of bat box design and placement strategies. We recommend future studies examine how changing thermal mass and conductance can be used to diminish overheating risk while also enhancing the effects of social thermoregulation for bat box users.