Average Daily Energy Expenditure Research Articles

Effects of the COVID-19 associated United Kingdom lockdown on physical activity in older adults at high risk of cardiovascular disease: a mixed methods perspective from the MedEx-UK multicenter trial.

Physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour are linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, infections and dementia, as well as placing a significant economic burden on healthcare systems. The implementation of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown measures aimed at reducing virus transmission posed challenges to the opportunity to be physically active. This study investigates how the first UK COVID-19 lockdown affected objectively measured physical activity in older adults at higher risk of cardiovascular disease. We studied 48 individuals aged 55-74 years (81.3% female) with self-reported PA levels < 90 min/week and a QRISK2 score ≥ 10 (indicative of a ≥ 10% risk of a major cardiovascular event in the next 10 years) without mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Physical activity data was collected using objective wrist-based activity monitors and analysed across three time periods, usual activity (pre-pandemic), the precautionary phase when the UK began advising on limiting social contact and finally during the first UK lockdown period was collected (27 January 2020 and 07 June 2020). Data was analysed using linear mixed effects model was used to investigate PA levels over the measured 12-week period. Effects of BMI, age, deprivation score and baseline PA levels on PA across the three measurement periods were also examined. Focus-group and individual interviews were conducted, and data were thematically analysed. Average daily step count (-34% lower, p < 0.001) and active energy expenditure (-26% lower, p < 0.001) were significantly lower during the precautionary period compared with the usual activity period. Physical activity remained low during the UK lockdown period. Participants with a lower BMI engaged in significantly more (+45% higher daily steps p < 0.001) physical activity and those over 70 years old were more physically active than those under 70 years across the 12-week period (+23% higher daily steps p < 0.007). The risk of COVID-19 infection and restrictions because of lockdown measures meant some individuals had to find alternative methods to staying physical active. Participants described a lack of access to facilities and concerns over health related to COVID-19 as barriers to engaging in physical activity during lockdown. For some, this resulted in a shift towards less structured activities such as gardening or going for a walk. The data presented shows that lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced physical activity among older individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly those with a higher body mass index. To support this population group in staying active during future lockdowns, a multifaceted strategy is needed, emphasizing psychosocial benefits and home-based physical activity. The MedEx-UK study was pre-registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03673722).

Do Iranian Female Dancers Face a Risk of Chronic Negative Energy Balance? A Study on Energy Intake and Expenditure Among Non-professional Female Dancers

Background: Female dancers are at risk of negative energy balance and its adverse effects. However, there is no evidence regarding the energy balance of Iranian female dancers in the literature. Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 25 female nonprofessional dancers, dietary intake was assessed using self-reported food diaries and recall interviews on three different days: One dance day, one workday without dance, and one weekend day without dance. Nutrient intake was analyzed and converted into protein, carbohydrate, and fat components, and subsequently into energy equivalents. Total energy expenditure was calculated based on physical activity measurements taken on dance, work, and rest days. The average daily energy intake and expenditure over a 7-day period were then compared. Results: Significant daily energy deficiency was observed based on the average over 7 days (- 772.7 kcal +/- 450 kcal, P-value &lt; 0.05). Dancers consumed less protein and carbohydrates and more fat than the recommended daily values (P-value &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: It appears that Iranian female dancers suffer from negative energy balance and nutritional malpractice. This may be related to underlying eating disorders or perceptions of body image, as well as inadequate nutritional knowledge. Consulting experienced sports nutritionists and other necessary specialists is recommended.

Data-driven adaptive building thermal controller tuning with constraints: A primal–dual contextual Bayesian optimization approach

We study the problem of tuning the parameters of a room temperature controller to minimize its energy consumption, subject to the constraint that the daily cumulative thermal discomfort of the occupants is below a given threshold. We formulate it as an online constrained black-box optimization problem where, on each day, we observe some relevant environmental context and adaptively select the controller parameters. In this paper, we propose to use a data-driven Primal-Dual Contextual Bayesian Optimization (PDCBO) approach to solve this problem.In a simulation case study on a single room, we apply our algorithm to tune the parameters of a Proportional Integral (PI) heating controller and the pre-heating time. Our results show that PDCBO can save up to 4.7% energy consumption compared to other state-of-the-art Bayesian optimization-based methods while keeping the daily thermal discomfort below the given tolerable threshold on average. Additionally, PDCBO can automatically track time-varying tolerable thresholds while existing methods fail to do so. We then study an alternative constrained tuning problem where we aim to minimize the thermal discomfort with a given energy budget. With this formulation, PDCBO reduces the average discomfort by up to 63% compared to state-of-the-art safe optimization methods while keeping the average daily energy consumption below the required threshold.

Introducing a novel method for simulating stochastic movement and occupancy in residential spaces using time-use survey data

In the context of growing concerns over energy consumption and sustainability, accurate modelling of occupancy patterns within residential buildings is critical. In this study, a novel stochastic occupancy model is introduced for simulating human behaviour within residential buildings by employing Time Use Survey (TUS) data and utilising Markov chains and probabilistic sampling algorithms. The novelty of this research lies in its approach to represent the dynamic nature of occupancy across different functional spaces and age groups, a gap not yet adequately addressed in existing studies. The model's accuracy is ascertained through ten-fold cross-validation, achieving an average R2 value of 0.91 across key functional rooms (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room), indicating a high degree of precision. Applied to a case study of a two-story detached house in the UK, the model effectively reflects varied behaviour patterns and room occupancy among different age groups. For instance, the average daily appliance energy consumption for occupants aged 8–14 ranged from 0 to 3.77 kWh (median 1.71 kWh), for ages 15–64 from 0 to 4.93 kWh (median 2.61 kWh), and for over 65 from 0.87 to 5.65 kWh (median 3.60 kWh). This model, with its scalability and accuracy in capturing the inherent randomness of human behaviour, is a valuable tool for improving energy consumption simulations and contributing to sustainable residential building design and management.

A Wi-Fi dynamic routing algorithm based on energy prediction for wildlife monitoring wireless network

The routing protocol of wildlife monitoring Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) networks cannot balance node energy consumption, leading to early node death. Therefore, the research on energy balance in wildlife monitoring Wi-Fi networks is a hot topic. In order to balance the energy consumption of Wi-Fi networks and extend the lifespan of wireless networks, we designed the low energy dynamic routing protocol LEACH-EP (Low Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy- Energy Prediction) based on energy prediction by analyzing the long-range dependent characteristics of the remaining energy time series (RETS) of wireless network nodes. This protocol uses the LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory) model to predict the remaining energy of network nodes, and then dynamically plans routes using future remaining energy. We conducted a networking experiment in the Anzihe Nature Reserve in Chengdu, China, and the Energy Balance Factor index of the wireless network significantly improved. The Mean Absolute Error value of network nodes is less than 60 mW, which is less than 10% of the average daily energy consumption of nodes. Half of the surviving network nodes have achieved an increase to 55.2%, and the network death time has been extended by 38.6%. The experimental results show that the energy prediction routing protocol LEACH-EP can significantly extend the node survival life and balance network energy consumption.

Experimental study on the performance of household electric cooking stoves: Locally made versus imported technologies

Biomass combustion produces air pollutants, causing high mortality rates, while electric cooking, which is efficient and eco-friendly, reduces mortality and maximizes socio-economic and ecological benefits. Thus, the primary purpose of this study is to compare the performance of domestic and imported household electric hotplate stoves via experimental investigation. For the study, 20 households have been purposively selected in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia from low- and middle-income groups. Following that, the researchers trained the participants and enumerators to record the energy consumption and time taken for each cooking event. The experiments have been conducted using medium-sized domestic and imported electric hotplate stoves for 15 days each. Digital energy meters have been used to record the daily cooking energy demand. Participants record the daily data using the developed Excel spreadsheet. Accordingly, the study disclosed that the average daily cooking energy consumption per household for locally-made and imported electric cookstoves is 3.55 kWh and 2.81 kWh, respectively. The result also reveals that local electric stoves are subjected to inferior efficiency and higher heat losses. On the other hand, the analysis of the average time required to cook a meal revealed that cooking with imported cookstoves took slightly longer than cooking with locally-made cookstoves. This is because as there is no power-control mechanism, locally-made electric stoves usually work at maximum power rate and cook faster than imported ones. Moreover, the average monthly energy expense per household using these stoves in their respective ways were $3.90 (213.33ETB), and $3.1(169.86ETB), suggesting that locally manufactured stoves have higher energy cost bills. An independent T-test results revealed a significant difference (p < 0.001) between the two types of stoves. However, most households use locally made electric cook stoves due to their low prices, easy maintenance, and low understanding of stove efficiency. Hence, further investigation is needed to improve the efficiency and standardization of local electric cook stoves and increase the supply chain of imported electric appliances.

Evaluation of energy consumption and electric range of battery electric busses for application to public transportation

Vehicle fleet electrification is the main target of the following decades, as a measure to decarbonize the transport sector. Electric urban busses consist of a solution for upgrading the bus fleet aiming to an improvement of urban areas and city centres air quality. To electrify the bus fleet at the city of Athens, Greece, the responsible organization, Athens Urban Transport Organization S.A. (OASA), organized a pilot program for using battery electric buses (BEB) in existing bus lines. The goal of the pilot program was to evaluate the energy consumption of the selected busses under real operation scenarios. The main target of this study is to describe the combined experimental and simulation methodology followed for the evaluation of the BEBs’ . The experimental part of the study is based on the monitoring of the BEBs under real operation for a specific bus line. During the operation of the vehicles, energy consumption along with environmental conditions and A/C usage were monitored. The simulation models were used to predict the energy consumption under different driving conditions and quantify the impact of operating parameters on energy consumption. Experimental results showed that the average daily energy consumption ranged between 96 kWh/km and 220 kWh/km, values strongly related to ambient temperature. Simulations highlighted that A/C usage can lead to two times higher energy consumption for the same route and load. Finally, the expected electric range of buses considered in the study calculated between 130 km and 170 km for the selected line, load equivalent of 25 passengers and 7 kW of A/C consumption.

Eight Weeks of Bifidobacterium lactis BL-99 Supplementation Improves Lipid Metabolism and Sports Performance through Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Cross-Country Skiers: A Preliminary Study.

(1) Background: Probiotics in the form of nutritional supplements are safe and potentially useful for strategic application among endurance athletes. Bifidobacterium animalis lactis BL-99 (BL-99) was isolated from the intestines of healthy Chinese infants. We combined plasma-targeted metabolomics and fecal metagenomics to explore the effect of 8 weeks of BL-99 supplementation on cross-country skiers' metabolism and sports performance. (2) Methods: Sixteen national top-level male cross-country skiers were recruited and randomly divided into a placebo group (C) and a BL-99 group (E). The participants took the supplements four times/day (with each of three meals and at 21:00) consistently for 8 weeks. The experiment was conducted in a single-blind randomized fashion. The subject's dietary intake and total daily energy consumption were recorded. Blood and stool samples were collected before and after the 8-week intervention, and body composition, muscle strength, blood biochemical parameters, plasma-targeted metabolomic data, and fecal metagenomic data were then analyzed. (3) Results: The following changes occurred after 8 weeks of BL-99 supplementation: (a) There was no significant difference in the average total daily energy consumption and body composition between the C and E groups. (b) The VO2max and 60°/s and 180°/s knee joint extensor strength significantly increased in both the C and E groups. By the eighth week, the VO2max and 60 s knee-joint extensor strength were significantly higher in the E group than in the C group. (c) The triglyceride levels significantly decreased in both the C and E groups. In addition, the LDL-C levels significantly decreased in the E group. (d) The abundance of Bifidobacterium animalis increased two-fold in the C group and forty-fold in the E group. (e) Plasma-targeted metabolomic analysis showed that, after eight weeks of BL-99 supplementation, the increases in DHA, adrenic acid, linoleic acid, and acetic acid and decreases in glycocholic acid and glycodeoxycholic acid in the E group were significantly higher than those in the C group. (f) Spearman correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between Bifidobacterium animalis' abundance and SCFAs, PUFAs, and bile acids. (g) There was a significant correlation between the most significantly regulated metabolites and indicators related to sports performance and lipid metabolism. (4) Conclusions: Eight weeks of BL-99 supplementation combined with training may help to improve lipid metabolism and sports performance by increasing the abundance of Bifidobacterium, which can promote the generation of short-chain fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, and inhibit the synthesis of bile acids.

Investigating the effect of the defrost cycles of air-source heat pumps on their electricity demand in residential buildings

With the goal to reach net zero carbon emission, countries around the world are expected to switch from fossil fuel to more eco-friendly alternatives. This suggests that heating, transport, and energy sectors will be more dependent on electricity. Heat pump technology is expected to be the most common and clean technology to be used for heating in buildings due to its Coefficient of Performance. Air-source heat pumps are the most common type due to their ease of installation. This paper investigates how different climates around the world would affect the air-source heat pump electricity consumption and its defrost cycles; and hence the potential overall effect on the grid. A novel heat pump simulation model has been developed to understand the behaviour of the heat pump in cold weather scenarios. An experimental validation has been implemented to ensure the accuracy of the simulation model. Global case studies of cities from around the world including Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Stockholm, Vancouver, Ruse, Moscow, Reykjavik, Harbin and Nottingham are selected to assess the defrost cycles of air source heat pumps. The innovation of this research is in the in-depth investigation of heat pump defrost cycles. Electrifying the heating sector is expected to increase electricity consumption significantly, especially in cold weather. A detailed case study of the UK is presented with heat pumps and the examination of the impact this would have on the electricity grid is presented. Heating demands for buildings in cold weather was also simulated to calculate the required heating demand. The results show that the wide implementation of heat pumps in the UK, for example, would increase the total daily demand of electricity by approximately 144% relative to the present level of grid energy demand. In addition, the average daily energy consumption would increase by roughly 106% over the cold season. The findings are critical, and the novel methodology is applicable to many countries on global level in relation to the future effect of heat pumps on the grid and predicting the power demand needed by the additional heat pumps based on geographical location, u-values of building elements, and heating demand. It is crucial for a household to improve the insulation of their dwelling as this could considerably reduce the power demand by the heat pump and therefore the overall electricity consumption. This paper aims to inform future technology developers and policy makers regarding the expected effect of heat pump technology on the grid and the possible sudden peaks in demand.

Analysis of the Actual Usage and Emission Reduction Potential of Electric Heavy-Duty Trucks: A Case Study of a Steel Plant

In order to understand the driving characteristics of electric heavy-duty trucks in practical application scenarios and promote their usage to replace diesel trucks, this study analyzed the actual usage of electric and diesel heavy-duty trucks in a steel factory based on vehicle-monitoring data and remote online monitoring data and estimated the emission reduction potential of the application of electric trucks by using a mileage-based method and the greenhouse gas emission model. The results showed that the electric heavy-duty trucks in the steel factory mostly operated for over 14 h, with a vehicle kilometers traveled (VKT) of 50–300 km each day, which could meet most of the demands of the transportation of the steel industry. The average daily energy consumption for most trucks falls within the range of 210–230 kWh/100 km, with higher consumption in winter than in summer, which can save approximately 18–26% in operating costs compared with diesel trucks. It is estimated that the usage of these electric heavy-duty trucks can achieve an annual reduction of 115.8 tons of NOx emissions, 0.7 tons of PM emissions, and 18,000 tons of CO2 emissions. To further promote the application of electric heavy-duty trucks in China, several policy suggestions, such as introducing priority road-right policies, promoting vehicle and battery leasing markets, and exempting zero-emission vehicles during heavy pollution days, were proposed.

Testing the effectiveness of household fuel conservation strategies: Policy implications for increasing the affordability of exclusive clean cooking

BackgroundExclusive clean fuel use is essential for realizing health and other benefits but is often unaffordable. Decreasing household-level fuel needs could make exclusive clean fuel use more affordable, but there is a lack of knowledge on the amount of fuel savings that could be achieved through fuel conservation behaviors relevant to rural settings in low- and middle-income countries. MethodsWithin a trial in Peru, we trained a random half of intervention participants, who had previously received a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stove and were purchasing their own fuel, on fuel conservation strategies. We measured the amount of fuel and mega joules (MJ) of energy consumed by all participants, including control participants who were receiving free fuel from the trial. We administered surveys on fuel conservation behaviors and assigned a score based on the number of behaviors performed. ResultsIntervention participants with the training had a slightly higher conservation score than those without (7.2 vs. 6.6 points; p = 0.07). Across all participants, average daily energy consumption decreased by 9.5 MJ for each 1-point increase in conservation score (p < 0.001). Among households who used exclusively LPG (n = 99), each 1-point increase in conservation score was associated with a 0.04 kg decrease in LPG consumption per household per day (p = 0.03). Using pressure cookers and heating water in the sun decreased energy use, while using clay pots and forgetting to close stove knobs increased energy use. ConclusionOur findings suggest that a household could save 1.16 kg of LPG per month for each additional fuel conservation behavior, for a maximum potential savings of 8.1 kg per month. Fuel conservation messaging could be integrated into national household energy policies to increase the affordability of exclusive clean fuel use, and subsequently achieve the environmental and health benefits that could accompany such a transition.

Adaptation-based indoor environment control with night natural ventilation in autumn in an office building in a hot-humid area

In hot-humid areas, the temperature is high during the daytime in autumn which causes dissatisfactory thermal sensation and large cooling energy consumption. Night ventilation (NV) is an effective method that utilizes lower outdoor temperature at night to pre-cool buildings. Adaptation models are widely accepted physics-based comfort models and are practical for indoor environment control. However, the potential of NV in adaptation-based control has not been fully studied yet. In this study, we proposed a new adaptation-based control with NV towards autumn scenarios in hot-humid areas. We implemented the proposed control based on an existing system and tested its performance in an office building. Three modes, i.e., the conventional mode, the adaptation-based control without NV, and the adaptation-based control with NV, were evaluated and compared. The results showed that compared with the conventional mode, the humid sensation in the adaptation-based control without NV was close to neutral. The airflow perception was stronger. The CO2 concentration was maintained within normal level. The average daily energy consumption was decreased by 76%, but most occupants felt slightly warm. With NV, the indoor air temperature and the mean radiant temperature decreased. The occupants’ thermal sensation was close to neutral. The average daily energy-saving rate increased to 97%. This study was the final step of a series of studies on adaptation-based controls in hot-humid areas. These studies applied theoretical adaptive models to practical on-site controls and demonstrated the potential for improving human comfort and energy efficiency by the proposed adaptation-based controls.

Lower nutritional state and foraging success in an Arctic seabird despite behaviorally flexible responses to environmental change

The degree to which individuals adjust foraging behavior in response to environmental variability can impact foraging success, leading to downstream impacts on fitness and population dynamics. We examined the foraging flexibility, average daily energy expenditure, and foraging success of an ice-associated Arctic seabird, the thick-billed murre (Uria lomvia) in response to broad-scale environmental conditions at two different-sized, low Arctic colonies located <300 km apart. First, we compared foraging behavior (measured via GPS units), average daily energy expenditure (estimated from GPS derived activity budgets), and foraging success (nutritional state measured via nutritional biomarkers pre- and post- GPS deployment) of murres at two colonies, which differ greatly in size: 30,000 pairs breed on Coats Island, Nunavut, and 400,000 pairs breed on Digges Island, Nunavut. Second, we tested whether colony size within the same marine ecosystem altered foraging behavior in response to broad-scale environmental variability. Third, we tested whether environmentally induced foraging flexibility influenced the foraging success of murres. Murres at the larger colony foraged farther and longer but made fewer trips, resulting in a lower nutritional state and lower foraging success compared to birds at the smaller colony. Foraging behavior and foraging success varied in response to environmental variation, with murres at both colonies making longer, more distant foraging trips in high ice regimes during incubation, suggesting flexibility in responding to environmental variability. However, only birds at the larger colony showed this same flexibility during chick rearing. Foraging success at both colonies was higher during high ice regimes, suggesting greater prey availability. Overall, murres from the larger colony exhibited lower foraging success, and their foraging behavior showed stronger responses to changes in broad-scale conditions such as sea ice regime. Taken together, this suggests that larger Arctic seabird colonies have higher behavioral and demographic sensitivity to environmental change.

Analysis of the features of the formation of nutrition highly qualified endurance athletes

The issue of nutrition of highly qualified athletes and their timely correction is relevant. Methods. Energy expenditure at rest was determined by indirect calorimetry (Fitmate, Cosmed, Italy; Oxycon Mobile, Germany). 50 highly qualified athletes specializing in biathlon and academic rowing participated in the study. The actual composition of the diets was assessed by individual food diaries. Analysis of rations was carried out using special programs. The results. The actual nutrition of athletes differs from the recommended intake of energy and essential nutrients. The total caloric content of the daily ration at the educational and training meeting in the preparatory period of the annual macrocycle did not meet the minimum recommended norm. However, the individual energy value of the diet varied widely. A reduced relative content of carbohydrates was observed. The average actual content of proteins and fats in the diet of athletes corresponded to the norm. However, if you analyze their minimum and maximum number, you can observe a different picture - a deficit of the minimum and an excess of the maximum number. Conclusions. The analysis of food diaries of athletes revealed non-compliance with the basic principles of ration construction, namely: inconsistency of the energy value of the ration with the average daily energy expenditure, imbalance of the ration according to the main nutrients, inefficient distribution of the ration during the day taking into account the mode and nature of training. A significant deficit of carbohydrates in the diets of qualified athletes has been established. For example, in biathlon women's average carbohydrate consumption from the lower limit of the recommended range is only 60%, in men – 72%, and in academic rowing – 87%.

ОБҐРУНТУВАННЯ НЕОБХІДНОСТІ ФОРМУВАННЯ БОЙОВИХ СУХИХ ПАЙКІВ І РАЦІОНІВ ХАРЧУВАННЯ ДЛЯ ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ СИЛ СЕКТОРУ БЕЗПЕКИ І ОБОРОНИ УКРАЇНИ

Analysis of daily dry products (MRE, norm 10) shows that the nutrient composition, biological, energy and physiological value of the MRE do not fully satisfy the needs of the serviceman’s body during adaptation to the conditions of service, while performing duties in crisis and conflict regions of the country in emergency cases as well as in extreme conditions due to insufficient content of full-fledged animal proteins, unbalanced ratio of essential amino acids, such as: methionine, lysine and tryptophan, fat acids, insufficient content of mono- and disaccharides, imbalance between proteins, fats and carbohydrates in daily ration, lack of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, deficiency of vitamins A, В2 and C. The energy content of actual ration doesn’t fully compensate for the real average daily energy expenditure of the personnel [8-10, 13], which is 3500-4000 kcal for ground troops. The heavy physical, moral and psychological burdens faced by military personnel while performing service and combat missions increase the body's need for nutrients. It is possible to overcome the deficiency of essential nutrients, micro- and macronutrients by increasing the range of products in the ration. According to the scientists, either one liter of milk or 10 kilograms of beef or three kilograms of carrots ensure the daily norm of calcium. 500 grams of meat or one kilogram of black bread grant daily norm of vitamin B needed for the body. A bucket of apples, or 2 kg of carrots or 5 lemons can provide the body with daily norm of vitamin C. It is clear that this is not expedient from an economic point of view and because of the issue of mass-dimensional indicators, which do not fully cover the needs of personnel in combat environment. Today, the daily set of dry rations (MRE) is mainly made up of canned products. It is mostly represented by animal proteins in the composition of meat and meat-vegetable preserves. We believe that in order to solve the stated problems, it is necessary to develop new dry rations (MREs) taking into account service burden, conduct an analysis of the chemical composition, and adjust the rations according to minerals and vitamins. This will contribute to increasing the resistance of the body of military personnel to intense physical and environmentally unfavorable burdens and will improve the level of their military and professional efficiency.

Energy budgets of captive Chinese pangolins (Manis pentadactyla).

The Chinese pangolin is an endangered species, and ex situ conservation and captive rescue are important conservation measures. This requires reliable information on nutritional energy requirements and expenditure characteristics. However, we lack sufficient knowledge of their energy physiology to determine their energy requirements for maintenance and growth. An open-flow respirometry system was used to measure the resting metabolic rate (RMR) and the daily energy expenditure (DEE) of Chinese pangolins (Manis pentadactyla), and the dietary digestive energy was measured. The average RMR in Chinese pangolins was 3.23mlO2kg-1min-1 at an ambient temperature (Ta) of 24.5-30°C, which was only 73.0% of the expected value based on body mass (BM). The average DEE values were 744.9kJday-1 in animals with BM >3kg and 597.3kJday-1 in those with BM <3kg, which were only 52.4% and 60.6% of the predicted values, respectively. The RMR and DEE levels of the Chinese pangolin were lower than those of similar-sized eutherian mammals and close to those of anteaters. These characteristics suggest that the Chinese pangolin has a low demand for energy in its diet. Although metabolic level data alone cannot be used to calculate the energy requirements of each Chinese pangolin, we believe they can provide a tangible reference for the relocation of Chinese pangolins. These results provide a scientific basis for future research on the physiology and ecology of endangered wildlife such as the Chinese pangolin.

Nutrition and somatic traits of women with different physical activity and various menstrual status

Background. There are publications which indicate a relationship between dietary pattern and somatic traits. Others report on link between somatic traits and physical activity. However, sparse studies discuss relationship between these three factors, i.e. nutrition, somatic traits and physical activity.&#x0D; Objectives. This survey aimed to analyze relationships between nutrition (amount and source of energy in food) and somatic traits (body height, body mass, fat content of the body) of women with different physical activity and various menstrual status.&#x0D; Material and methods. Investigations covered 312 women who were assessed for: somatic traits, average daily energy consumption and percentage contribution of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in providing energy. The physical activity was assessed by computing the physical activity index (PAI) being a ratio of daily energy expenditure (DEE) to basal metabolic rate (BMR). Among the women two groups were distinguished based on centile charts of the PAI developed for a given population, i.e.: women with a low (PAI≤10 cpts) and women with a high (PAI≥90 cpts) level of physical activity.&#x0D; Results. The highly physically active women were characterized by a lower body fat content, lower BMI values, and higher percentage of lean body mass compared to the women with a low level of physical activity. The highly active women showed a tendency for an increased consumption of whole-meal bread, milk and dairy products, vegetables (including potatoes), fruits, and sweets as well as a tendency for a reduced consumption of meat and processed meat products, both types of butter, and lard, compared to the little active women.&#x0D; Conclusions. It seems that the physical activity of the women had a direct impact on their nutrition. In turn, by affecting the somatic traits (body mass and composition), their eating habits could influence their physical activity.

Energy Balance And Body Composition In Elite Alpine Skiers During Training At Altitude And Across The Competitive Season

Alpine skiing is characterized by phases of demanding on-snow glacier training and competitions in extreme environments, where maintaining body composition (BC) is crucial for performance and may play a role in injury prevention. However, sport-specific literature on energy balance (EB) and strategies to avoid unfavorable changes in BC are still lacking. PURPOSE: To analyze EB and BC during a training camp at altitude and over the course of a competitive season. METHODS: In a prospective observational study, active male (n = 9, 27 ± 2.9 yrs) and female (n = 10, 25 ± 3.0 yrs) international skiers, competing in either speed (SPEED; n = 10) or technical (TEC; n = 9) disciplines, completed a 7 to 15-day training camp at altitude (base: 1800 m, glacier: 3500 m). BC (displacement plethysmography and bioelectrical impedance) was assessed at baseline, directly before and after the camp and at the end of the season. At altitude, food intake was assessed directly and indirectly, urine samples were collected for estimation of energy expenditure (doubly labelled water isotope method). RESULTS: During the training camp, an overall increase in body mass (BM, p = 0.011) and fat mass (FM, p < 0.001) was observed, whereas FFM remained unchanged. Increases in FM were prominent in men (p < 0.001) and SPEED (p = 0.002), but not in women or TEC. An average total daily energy expenditure (TEE) of 4088 ± 895 kcal/d and an energy intake (EI) of 4375 ± 1223 kcal resulted in an overall positive EB. EE in SPEED was significantly higher than in TEC (p = 0.03), with the highest EE observed in male speed athletes (~5900 kcal). Moreover, EB differed (p = 0.01) between men (760 ± 890 kcal/d) and women (-138 ± 490 kcal/d). Over the course of a season, FFM (p = 0.007) and skeletal muscle mass (SMM, p = 0.05) decreased significantly. Whereas women tended lose more SMM than men (p = 0.09), reductions in BM tended to be greater in male when compared to female athletes (p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that alpine skiers are able to meet the high energy demands during a short-term training camp, but not over the course of a competitive season. Therefore, BC should be monitored during key training and competition phases to identify athletes at risk and -if necessary- nutritional support should be provided to avoid being in a negative EB.

Accelerating animal energetics: high dive costs in a small seabird disrupt the dynamic body acceleration-energy expenditure relationship.

Accelerometry has been widely used to estimate energy expenditure in a broad array of terrestrial and aquatic species. However, a recent reappraisal of the method showed that relationships between dynamic body acceleration (DBA) and energy expenditure weaken as the proportion of non-mechanical costs increases. Aquatic air breathing species often exemplify this pattern, as buoyancy, thermoregulation and other physiological mechanisms disproportionately affect oxygen consumption during dives. Combining biologging with the doubly labelled water method, we simultaneously recorded daily energy expenditure (DEE) and triaxial acceleration in one of the world's smallest wing-propelled breath-hold divers, the dovekie (Alle alle). These data were used to estimate the activity-specific costs of flying and diving and to test whether overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA) is a reliable predictor of DEE in this abundant seabird. Average DEE for chick-rearing dovekies was 604±119kJday-1 across both sampling years. Despite recording lower stroke frequencies for diving than for flying (in line with allometric predictions for auks), dive costs were estimated to surpass flight costs in our sample of birds (flying: 7.24× basal metabolic rate, BMR; diving: 9.37× BMR). As expected, ODBA was not an effective predictor of DEE in this species. However, accelerometer-derived time budgets did accurately estimate DEE in dovekies. This work represents an empirical example of how the apparent energetic costs of buoyancy and thermoregulation limit the effectiveness of ODBA as the sole predictor of overall energy expenditure in small shallow-diving endotherms.

ОЦЕНКА ФАКТИЧЕСКОГО ПИТАНИЯ КУРСАНТОВ УЧЕБНОГО ПОДРАЗДЕЛЕНИЯ

The purpose of this study was to study the actual nutrition of conscripts undergoing training in training units. For its implementation, the average daily energy consumption of servicemen was determined and their physiological needs for nutrients and energy were calculated. The daily menu was used to determine the average daily set of food for military personnel, its nutritional composition and energy value. Their comparative analysis with the recommended norms has been carried out. As a result, discrepancies were established both in the quantity of consumed products and in their qualitative composition. As a result, it was concluded that it is advisable to correct the food set for servicemen undergoing training in training units.