An Alternate Approach to Military Rations for Optimal Health and Performance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayla-Anne Lenferna De La Motte ◽  
Grant Schofield ◽  
Helen Kilding ◽  
Caryn Zinn
Keyword(s):  
Total Energy ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Fresh Food ◽  
Sufficient Energy ◽  
Optimal Health ◽  
And Performance

ABSTRACT Introduction Operational ration packs are the sole source of nutrition when military personnel cannot access fresh food and field kitchens due to deployment and training in remote and hostile locations. They should be light, durable, nutrient rich, and contain sufficient energy to ensure that the personnel can carry out the expected duties. The macronutrient composition of rations has remained relatively unchanged despite escalating concerns related to the health and operational readiness of personnel globally. Currently, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) provides the personnel with a 24-hour ration pack. The aims of this study were to (1) analyse the nutrient content, cost, and weight of the NZDF-supplied ration pack and (2) develop and analyse an alternate ration pack. The alternate ration pack was designed with the intention of improving overall quality and macronutrient distribution ratio, to align with optimal health and performance outcomes. Materials and Methods Nutrient and weight analyses of the NZDF and alternate ration packs were conducted using nutrition analysis software Foodworks V. 10 (Xyris software). The ration packs were costed using information from the NZDF and from commercial online shopping websites (particularly Countdown supermarket and an online shop, iHerb). Data from nutrition panels were entered into Foodworks V. 10 (Xyris software). The data underlying this article will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author. Results The NZDF-supplied ration pack cost 37.00 NZD and contained an excessive amount of sugar (636 g or 46% total energy) and marginally insufficient protein (118.7 g or 9% total energy) to sustain physically active military personnel. Comparatively, the alternate ration pack was more costly (63.55 NZD) and contained significantly less sugar (74.6 g or 7.2% total energy) and exceeded protein (263.1 g or 26% total energy) requirements for physically active military personnel. Furthermore, the alternate ration pack was significantly lighter (0.71 kg) than the NZDF ration pack (1.4 kg). In summary, the alternate ration was nutritionally superior and lighter when compared to the currently supplied NZDF ration, but more expensive when purchased as a one-off. Conclusions This work highlights the shortcomings of currently supplied military rations packs (i.e., excessive sugar and marginally inadequate protein) and proposes a novel alternate approach to ration pack formulation. This approach would significantly reduce sugar and increase protein and fat content in military rations. Although this work indicates that the alternate approach (which would produce lighter and nutritionally superior rations) is more costly, this cost could be reduced significantly through bulk purchasing and purpose-built rations and food items. Considering these findings, field user-testing of the alternate ration pack is recommended and subsequent reformulation of guidelines for ration pack development, as appropriate.

scholarly journals Effects of Feeding Time on Markers of Muscle Metabolic Flexibility Following Acute Aerobic Exercise in Trained Mice Undergoing Time Restricted Feeding

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1717
Author(s):  
Aaron Persinger ◽  
Matthew Butawan ◽  
Martina Faietti ◽  
Ashley Pryke ◽  
Kyley Rose ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Exercise Training ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Metabolic Flexibility ◽  
Feeding Time ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Impact Performance ◽  
Before And After ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Access To Food

Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is becoming a popular way of eating in physically active populations, despite a lack of research on metabolic and performance outcomes as they relate to the timing of food consumption in relation to the time of exercise. The purpose of this study was to determine if the timing of feeding/fasting after exercise training differently affects muscle metabolic flexibility and response to an acute bout of exercise. Male C57BL/6 mice were randomized to one of three groups for 8 weeks. The control had ad libitum access to food before and after exercise training. TRF-immediate had immediate access to food for 6 h following exercise training and the TRF-delayed group had access to food 5-h post exercise for 6 h. The timing of fasting did not impact performance in a run to fatigue despite TRF groups having lower hindlimb muscle mass. TRF-delayed had lower levels of muscle HSL mRNA expression and lower levels of PGC-1α expression but displayed no changes in electron transport chain enzymes. These results suggest that in young populations consuming a healthy diet and exercising, the timing of fasting may not substantially impact metabolic flexibility and running performance.

The school competency contingency of worth as a mediator between performance-oriented achievement goals and performance outcomes

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Buck ◽  
Noelle Liwski ◽  
Connie Wolfe ◽  
Maxx Somers ◽  
Kati Knight ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Achievement Goals ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
And Performance

https://imsciences.edu.pk/files/journals/vol12_2/New%201%20MA.864.pdf

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Siddique ◽  
Shandana Shoaib ◽  
Zahoor Jan
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Relational Coordination ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
And Performance ◽  
High Level

A key aspect of work processes in service sector firms is the interconnection between tasks and performance. Relational coordination can play an important role in addressing the issues of coordinating organizational activities due to high level of interdependence complexity in service sector firms. Research has primarily supported the aspect that well devised high performance work systems (HPWS) can intensify organizational performance. There is a growing debate, however, with regard to understanding the “mechanism” linking HPWS and performance outcomes. Using relational coordination theory, this study examines a model that examine the effects of subsets of HPWS, such as motivation, skills and opportunity enhancing HR practices on relational coordination among employees working in reciprocal interdependent job settings. Data were gathered from multiple sources including managers and employees at individual, functional and unit levels to know their understanding in relation to HPWS and relational coordination (RC) in 218 bank branches in Pakistan. Data analysis via structural equation modelling, results suggest that HPWS predicted RC among officers at the unit level. The findings of the study have contributions to both, theory and practice.

scholarly journals Relating Competitive Golfers’ Perceived Emotions and Performance

2021 ◽  
pp. 003151252110059
Author(s):  
Erik Lundkvist ◽  
Henrik Gustafsson ◽  
Gunilla Björklund ◽  
Paul Davis ◽  
Andreas Ivarsson
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Control ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Skill Level ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Dynamic Relationship ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Player Skill ◽  
Task Oriented ◽  
The Relationship

The present study examined relationships between golfers’ self-perceived emotions (e.g., irritability, nervousness, tension), task-oriented coping, perceived control, and performance during a golf competition. We implemented a process-oriented golf analysis in which competitors rated these variables hole-by-hole in a competitive golf round. Within a two-level Bayesian multivariate autoregressive model, we showed that (a) within persons, emotions and task-oriented coping were reactions that stemmed from performance on the previous hole; and (b) between persons, player skill level predicted both better scores and the ability to limit the influence of negative affect on performance. These findings highlight the complex nature of the relationship between emotions and performance. Future studies might use a similarly ecologically valid research design to more precisely measure aspects of time and potentially moderating effects of player skill level and personality. An increased understanding of the dynamic relationship between emotions and performance can promote the development of effective psychological interventions for optimal performance outcomes.

Experimental study on the effects of a single simulator-based bridge resource management unit on attitudes, behaviour and performance

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Stefan Röttger ◽  
Hannes Krey
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Simulator Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Open Communication ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Group Data ◽  
Communication And Coordination ◽  
And Performance ◽  
German Navy

Abstract The objective of this work was to assess whether the implementation of a bridge resource management (BRM) unit into the simulator-based nautical training of the German Navy is effective in improving non-technical skills and navigation performance. To this end, questionnaire data, observations of behaviour and performance outcomes were compared between a control group and an experimental group. Data of 24 bridge teams (126 sailors) were used for the analyses. Ten teams received BRM training and 14 teams served as the control group with unchanged simulator training. Reactions to simulator training were positive in both groups but more favourable in the control group. In the BRM group, significantly more positive attitudes towards open communication and coordination, more frequent sharing of information and fewer collisions were found than in the control group. Effect sizes were rather small. This may be due to the limited scale of the BRM unit, which consisted of only one instruction-training-feedback cycle. The extension of BRM-related feedback to all simulator runs of the nautical training can be expected to produce larger effects on attitudes, behaviour and performance.

Alliance experience and performance outcomes: A meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 147612702098287
Author(s):  
Peng Wang ◽  
Xu Jiang ◽  
Maggie Chuoyan Dong
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Alliance ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Performance Consequences ◽  
Controversial Topic ◽  
Alliance Experience ◽  
And Performance

Alliance experience has been a frequent topic in strategic alliance research in recent decades. Nonetheless, its performance consequences, either as a whole or differentiated into general versus partner-specific alliance experience, are neither theoretically clear nor empirically consistent. We use a range of meta-analytic techniques to integrate the empirical findings of 143 studies and provide a more conclusive assessment compared to prior research. Our study thus addresses a long-standing, understudied, and controversial topic: the distinction between the two types of alliance experiences. Going beyond traditional sub-group analysis, we reveal the contextual contingencies by examining how different types of alliance experiences and performance outcomes jointly affect the alliance experience–performance relationship. Moreover, we identify critical country-level institutional contingencies that moderate the focal effect.

Propagation of risks and their impact on performance in fresh food retail

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 568-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samir K Srivastava ◽  
Atanu Chaudhuri ◽  
Rajiv K. Srivastava
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Food Retail ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fresh Food ◽  
Retail Supply Chains ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Supply Chain Risks

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to carry out structural analysis of potential supply chain risks and performance measures in fresh food retail by applying interpretive structural modeling (ISM). Design/methodology/approach – Inputs were taken from industry experts in identifying and understanding interdependencies among food retail supply chain risks on different levels (sourcing and logistics outside the retail stores; storage and customer interface at the stores). Interdependencies among risks and their impact on performance measures are structured into a hierarchy in order to derive subsystems of interdependent elements to derive useful insights for theory and practice. Findings – Using the ISM approach the risks and performance measures were clustered according to their driving power and dependence power. Change in/inadequate government regulations’ are at the bottom level of the hierarchy implying highest driving power and require higher attention and focussed mitigation strategies. Risks like lack of traceability, transport delays/breakdowns and temperature abuse, cross-contamination in transport and storage have medium driver and dependence powers. Research limitations/implications – The approach is focussed on food retail supply chains in the Indian context and thereby limits the ability to generalize the findings. The academics and experts were selected on convenience and availability. Practical implications – It gives managers a better understanding of the risks and performance measures that have most influence on others (driving performance measures) and those measures which are most influenced by others (dependent performance measures) in fresh food retail and also a tool to prioritize them. This kind of information is strategic for managers who can use it to identify which performance measures they should concentrate on managing the trade-offs between measures. The findings and the applicability for practical use have been validated by both experts and practicing managers in food retail supply chains. Originality/value – The work is perhaps the first to link supply chain risks with performance and explains the propagation of risks in food retail supply chains. It contributes to theory by addressing a few research gaps and provides relevant managerial insights for practitioners.

APPLYING ANSOFF’S GROWTH STRATEGY MATRIX TO INNOVATION CLASSIFICATION

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (04) ◽  
pp. 1850039
Author(s):  
TUGBA GURCAYLILAR-YENIDOGAN ◽  
SAFAK AKSOY
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Clusters ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Growth Strategy ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Market Growth ◽  
Innovation Activities ◽  
Firm Innovativeness ◽  
Innovation Capacity ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Manage Innovation

This study aims to determine innovation capacity of a firm and to investigate the correlations between performance outcomes and innovation types. In this study, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted to classify firms with respect to different novelty degrees of innovation activities in developing new products and the magnitude of market impact shortly after innovations have been introduced and then appraise the association between innovation types and performance outcomes. The data obtained from the Turkish industrial clusters show that the higher firm innovativeness in product and market with a wide-spread diffusion effect of innovations, the greater is the market and production performance. To the best of our knowledge, this study is one of the few studies applying the product-market growth matrix to determine/manage innovation portfolio of firms.

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