Validating accelerometry-derived proxies of energy expenditure using the doubly-labelled water method in the smallest penguin species

Understanding energy use is central to understanding an animal's physiological and behavioural ecology. However, directly measuring energy expenditure in free-ranging animals is inherently difficult. The doubly-labelled water (DLW) method is widely used to investigate energy expenditure in a range of taxa. Although reliable, DLW data collection and analysis is both financially costly and time consuming. Dynamic body acceleration (e.g. VeDBA) calculated from animal-borne accelerometers has been used to determine behavioural patterns, and is increasingly being used as a proxy for energy expenditure. Still its performance as a proxy for energy expenditure in free-ranging animals is not well established and requires validation against established methods. In the present study, the relationship between VeDBA and the at-sea metabolic rate calculated from DLW was investigated in little penguins (Eudyptula minor) using three approaches. Both in a simple correlation and activity-specific approaches were shown to be good predictors of at-sea metabolic rate. The third approach using activity-specific energy expenditure values obtained from literature did not accurately calculate the energy expended by individuals. However, all three approaches were significantly strengthened by the addition of mean horizontal travel speed. These results provide validation for the use of accelerometry as a proxy for energy expenditure and show how energy expenditure may be influenced by both individual behaviour and environmental conditions.

Nutritional Therapy for Athletes with Diabetes

Diabetes is a worldwide disease also affecting the sports field. The two main forms of diabetes, namely type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), differ in both their pathological and pharmacological characteristics and thus require a distinct nutritional treatment. Diet plays an important role in the management of athletes with diabetes and is crucial to achieving their best performance. This review aims to investigate the objectives of nutritional therapy before, during and after training, in order to improve the best composition of macronutrients during meals. In this review, we provide a brief overview of recent studies about nutritional approaches to people with diabetes for performance optimization and for the control of diabetes-related complications. Thereafter, we discuss the differences between macronutrients and dietary intake before, during and after training. It can be concluded that each sport has particular characteristics in terms of endurance and power, hence demanding a specific energy expenditure and consequent nutritional adjustments. Therefore, the management of athletes with diabetes must be personalized and supported by medical professionals, including a diabetologist, physiologist and a nutritionist.

ANALYSIS OF THE COMBINED HEAT PUMP HEATING SCHEMES USING THE HEAT OF ATMOSPHERIC AIR AND HOUSE SEWAGE

The method of analysis of the system of heat pump heating using the heat of sewage of the building and atmospheric air as sources of heat is outlined in this article. A thermodynamic analysis of the heating circuit was made, in which a dependence was obtained for determining the ratio of the thermal flow introduced into the evaporator with atmospheric air to the total heat consumption for heating. It is shown that the scheme of heat pump system with the use of additional heat of sewage is more effective than the initial heating scheme. The correlation for determining the total specific energy expenditure for the heat pump system using the heat of atmospheric air and sewage is obtained. It is determined that when using this scheme at the stage of design of the system of heat pump heating it is possible to significantly reduce capital and operating costs. The use of obtained dependencies in the development of heat pump systems will ensure the maximum energy efficiency of their operation. Bibl. 7, Fig. 4.

ENHANCEMENT OF THE HYDROCARBONS PYROLYSIS SELECTIVITY

Data was obtained on relative reactivity for different type bonds in reactions with hydrogen atoms, methyl radicals, and also on effective relative reactivities when using an inert diluent, allowing deepening the knowledge about pyrolysis of raw materials of a given composition. A method has been developed for increasing selectivity of process for target products (lower olefins), lowering yields of liquid products of condensation and specific energy expenditure, based on influence of hydrogen on thermic reactions of alkanes and alkenes.