Weight loss practices and eating behaviours among female physique athletes: Acquiring the optimal body composition for competition

Little is known about weight loss practices and eating behaviours in female physique athletes. This study investigated the weight loss history, practices, and key influences during the pre-competition period in a large cohort of female physique athletes stratified by division and experience level. Eating attitudes and behaviours were assessed to identify whether athletes were at risk of developing an eating disorder. Using a cross-sectional research design, female physique athletes (n = 158) were recruited and completed an anonymous online self-reported survey consisting of two validated questionnaires: Rapid Weight Loss Questionnaire and Eating Attitudes Test-26. Irrespective of division or experience, female physique athletes used a combination of weight loss practices during the pre-competition phase. Gradual dieting (94%), food restriction (64%) and excessive exercise (84%), followed by body water manipulation via water loading (73%) were the most commonly used methods. Overall, 37% of female physique athletes were considered at risk of developing an eating disorder. Additionally, 42% of female physique athletes used two pathogenic weight control methods with 34% of Figure novice athletes indicating binge eating once a week or more. The coach (89%) and another athlete (73%) were identified as key influences on athletes’ dieting practices and weight loss. The prevalence of athletes identified with disordered eating symptoms and engaging in pathogenic weight control methods is concerning. In future, female physique athletes should seek advice from registered nutritionists to optimise weight management practices and minimise the risk of developing an eating disorder.

Analysis of Control Methods for the Traction Drive of an Alternating Current Electric Locomotive

The analysis of operating conditions of traction drives of electric locomotives with asynchronous traction motors has been carried out. It was found that during operation in the output converter of an asynchronous motor, defects may occur, which leads to asymmetric modes of its operation. Models of a traction drive of an electric locomotive with asynchronous motors with scalar and vector control of the output converter are proposed, taking into account asymmetric operating modes. As a result of the simulation, the starting characteristics of the traction drive were obtained for various control methods both in normal and emergency modes of the drive. For the drive-in emergency mode, the following cases were investigated: the balance of the converter output voltages and the turn-to-turn circuit of 10% of phase A winding of the motor stator; imbalance of the output voltages of the inverter and an intact motor; imbalance of the output voltages of the converter and interturn short circuit of 10% of phase A winding of the motor stator. Comparison of the simulation results have shown that in emergency modes in the traction drive, the torque ripple on the motor shaft in the drive with vector control is 13% less, and in scalar control, the phase current unbalance coefficient is 22% less. The results of this work can be used to study the influence of the output converter control methods on the energy efficiency indicators of the traction drive of an AC electric locomotive.

Nosemosis Prevention and Control

Nosemosis is a serious microsporidian disease of adult European honey bees caused by the spore-forming unicellular fungi Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae. In this paper we describe the currently known techniques for nosemosis prevention and control including Good Beekeeping Practices (GBPs) and biosecurity measures (BMBs). Topics such as queen renewal, nosema-resistant bees and hygienic and control methods are described. Strong efforts are currently provided to find more a sustainable solution than the use of antibiotics. So far, it seems that the best way to approach nosemosis is given by an “integrated pest management strategy”, which foresees the contemporary application of different, specific GBPs and BMBs.

Saracura-Mirá, a Proposed Brazilian Amazonian Adaptogen from Ampelozizyphus amazonicus

The Amazon Forest is known all over the world for its diversity and exuberance, and for sheltering several indigenous groups and other traditional communities. There, as well as in several other countries, in traditional medical systems, weakness, fatigue and debility are seen as limiting health conditions where medicinal plants are often used in a non-specific way to improve body functions. This review brings together literature data on Ampelozizyphus amazonicus, commonly known in Brazil as “saracura-mirá” and/or “cerveja de índio”, as an Amazonian adaptogen, including some contributions from the authors based on their ethnographic and laboratory experiences. Topics such as botany, chemistry, ethnopharmacological and pharmacological aspects that support the adaptogen character of this plant, as well as cultivation, market status and supply chain aspects are discussed, and the gaps to establish “saracura-mirá” as an ingredient for the pharmaceutical purposes identified. The revised data presented good scientific evidence supporting the use of this Amazonian plant as a new adaptogen. Literature data also reveal that a detailed survey on natural populations of this plant is needed, as well as agronomical studies that could furnish A. amazonicus bark as a raw material. Another important issue is the lack of developed quality control methods to assure its quality assessment.

A Novel INDI based Guidance Law for Fixed Wing Aircrafts: Derivation and Application

In this paper, we comprehensively present and derive two INDI principle based guidance laws for fixed wing aircrafts. More specifically, two control methods are mathematically derived in detail, where the first decouples the lateral and the longitudinal channels while the second takes the interactions into account. The cumbersome mathematical operations involved in the derivation process aim at reaching a more concise control method and also at providing the community with clearer physical concepts behind this formula. The reason for manipulating transformation matrices is to find a univariate function and to isolate the variable as a virtual input. Efficient and modular guidance control law is then permitted. Lastly, the proposed guidance methods are applied to a 6 dof nonlinear platform under various flight modes to demonstrate the feasibility and advantages.

A Novel INDI based Guidance Law for Fixed Wing Aircrafts: Derivation and Application

In this paper, we comprehensively present and derive two INDI principle based guidance laws for fixed wing aircrafts. More specifically, two control methods are mathematically derived in detail, where the first decouples the lateral and the longitudinal channels while the second takes the interactions into account. The cumbersome mathematical operations involved in the derivation process aim at reaching a more concise control method and also at providing the community with clearer physical concepts behind this formula. The reason for manipulating transformation matrices is to find a univariate function and to isolate the variable as a virtual input. Efficient and modular guidance control law is then permitted. Lastly, the proposed guidance methods are applied to a 6 dof nonlinear platform under various flight modes to demonstrate the feasibility and advantages.

Evaluation of two artificial infection methods of live ticks as tools for studying interactions between tick-borne viruses and their tick vectors

Up to 170 tick-borne viruses (TBVs) have been identified to date. However, there is a paucity of information regarding TBVs and their interaction with respective vectors, limiting the development of new effective and urgently needed control methods. To overcome this gap of knowledge, it is essential to reproduce transmission cycles under controlled laboratory conditions. In this study we assessed an artificial feeding system (AFS) and an immersion technique (IT) to infect Ixodes ricinus ticks with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Kemerovo (KEM) virus, both known to be transmitted predominantly by ixodid ticks. Both methods permitted TBEV acquisition by ticks and we further confirmed virus trans-stadial transmission and onward transmission to a vertebrate host. However, only artificial feeding system allowed to demonstrate both acquisition by ticks and trans-stadial transmission for KEMV. Yet we did not observe transmission of KEMV to mice (IFNAR−/− or BALB/c). Artificial infection methods of ticks are important tools to study tick-virus interactions. When optimally used under laboratory settings, they provide important insights into tick-borne virus transmission cycles.

Mineral composition of wheat species as influenced by different fertilizer sources and different weed control practices

This research was carried out to determine the effects of agronomic practices on the mineral composition of organically-grown wheat species. In terms of all nutrients evaluated, the mineral content of wheat showed significant differences according to crop years, varieties, weed control methods and fertilizer sources. As the average of all factors, the Cu, Fe, Mn, Se, Zn, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and Pb contents of the ground wheat grain were; 3.93, 42.8, 79.6, 0.549, 11.34, 0.012, 0.140, 0.194, 3.71 and 0.269 mg / kg, respectively. According to the wheat varieties, the Kırik was superior in terms of Cu, Fe, Se, Zn, Co and Cr, and the Dogu-88 was superior in terms of Mn, Cd, and Ni. The effect of weed control methods on mineral content was variable. According to fertilizer sources, the highest mineral content was obtained from the control plots without fertilizer treatments. The lowest mineral contents were obtained from chemical fertilization, cattle manure and organic fertilizer applications. There was no significant increase in the mineral content of wheat with organic fertilization, however, organic agriculture still preserves its place in terms of healthy food. As a result, it has been determined that the values obtained for all mineral elements were not at a level that pose a risk on the environment, human and animal health according to WHO.

Efficacy of Beauveria bassiana and Beauveria pseudobassiana isolates against the pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams, 1926 (Lepidoptera/Notodontidae)

Background The pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams, 1926 (Lepidoptera/Notodontidae) is one of the most harmful insects that destroys pine ecosystems by feeding on pine leaves at its larval stage. Because of its urticating setae, the insect also causes severe skin reactions to animals and humans. Instead of chemical control, eco-friendly biological control methods are preferred to combat this species. Results The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of five different Beauveria bassiana Vuill, 1912 (Hypocreales/Cordycipitaceae) isolates (TR-SM-10, TR-SM-11, TR-SM-2, TR-SK-1 and TR-D-1) and one B. pseudobassiana Rehner & Humber (Hypocreales/Cordycipitaceae) isolate (TR-SM-1) against the fourth instar larvae of T. wilkinsoni under laboratory conditions. T. wilkinsoni larvae were collected from the Ondokuz Mayıs University Kurupelit Campus in Samsun, Turkey, in 2021, and the fourth instar larvae were used in the experiment. Two ml of spray of the six fungal isolates were applied to every ten larvae at each concentration (1 × 107 and 1 × 108 conidia ml−1). The experiment was carried out in five replicates per group, and the larvae were observed for 10 days. As a result, all isolates of B. bassiana caused 100% mortality at 1 × 108 conidia ml−1 concentration. B. pseudobassiana isolate also caused 100% mortality at both concentrations. At 1 × 107 conidia ml−1 concentration, the larvae treated with the B. pseudobassiana isolate (TR-SM-1) had the lowest LT50 (2.89 days) and LT90 values (4.79 days), while the larvae treated with TR-SM-10 isolate had the highest LT50 (5.65 days) and LT90 values (9.39 days). At 1 × 108 conidia ml−1 concentration, the larvae treated with TR-SK-1 isolate had the lowest LT50 (2.89 days) and LT90 values (4.79 days), while those treated with TR-SM-10 isolate had the highest LT50 (3.95 days) and LT90 values (8.15 days). Conclusion It has been recommended that the five different isolates of B. bassiana and B. pseudobassiana isolates were virulent to T. wilkinsoni larvae and can be used for biological control of T. wilkinsoni.

Combined Vector and Direct Controls Based on Five-Level Inverter for High Performance of IM Drive

The goal of this study was to figure out how to regulate an induction motor in a hybrid electric vehicle. Conventional combined vector and direct control induction motors take advantage of the advantages of vector control and direct torque control. It is also a method that avoids some of the difficulties in implementing both of the two control methods. However, for this method of control, the statoric current has a great wealth of harmonic components which, unfortunately, results in a strong undulation of the torque regardless of the region speed. To solve this problem, a five-level neutral point clamped inverter was used. Through multilevel inverter operation, the voltage is closer to the sine wave. The speed and torque are then successfully controlled with a lower level of ripple in the torque response which improves system performance. The analysis of this study was verified with simulation in the MATLAB/Simulink interface. The simulation results demonstrate the high performance of this control strategy.