Minibus taxis, a form of informal shared mobility that carries up to 16 passengers, is the main mode of public transport in sub-Saharan Africa, and given global trends, a large-scale shift to electric paratransit is imminent in the coming decades. Modeling the energy consumption (kWh/km) of electric vehicle (EV) fleets is a pre-requisite for planning for fleet deployment, especially in energy-constrained contexts. Given the paucity of EVs in sub-Saharan Africa, ground-truth data on the energy consumption of electric paratransit does not exist for many developing contexts. Consequently, GPS tracking data on internal combustion engine (ICE) versions of these vehicles is often used to estimate the energy consumption of an electric equivalent. To date, only per-minute GPS tracking data has been captured on these vehicles and used for energy consumption estimates. But this sampling frequency is insufficient for accurate energy consumption estimates, especially given the unique micro-mobility patterns of minibus taxis that are characterized by many rapid acceleration/deceleration events in quick succession. Although simulators can be used to interpolate between the dataset, they have been shown to be inaccurate in the regional context. This article presents a dataset of high-fidelity micromobility data captured on minibus taxis in transit on four typical route types: inter-city, intra-city, uphill, and downhill. The main objective was to estimate energy requirements for the eventual electrification of these vehicles, the data was thus processed according to an electro-kinetic model. This high-fidelity mobility data was captured by \"standardised passengers\" with bespoke GPS-location logging devices sampling at 1 Hz. Trips on the four route types were recorded and saved in six folders - three routes, each in two directions, with one route being uphill in one direction and downhill in another. Each of the six folders have subfolders for time of day - morning, afternoon, and evening. In total 62 trips were recorded with varying durations, depending on the traffic and route length.

Obesity is a chronic disease caused primarily by the imbalance between the amount of calories supplied to the body and energy expenditure. Not only does it deteriorate the quality of life, but most importantly it increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, leading to reduced life expectancy. In this review, we would like to present the molecular pathomechanisms underlying obesity, which constitute the target points for the action of anti-obesity medications. These include the central nervous system, brain-gut-microbiome axis, gastrointestinal motility, and energy expenditure. A significant part of this article is dedicated to incretin-based drugs such as GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., liraglutide and semaglutide), as well as the brand new dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist tirzepatide, all of which have become \"block-buster\" drugs due to their effectiveness in reducing body weight and beneficial effects on the patient\'s metabolic profile. Finally, this review article highlights newly designed molecules with the potential for future obesity management that are the subject of ongoing clinical trials.

Indirect methods of measuring the energy expenditure of grazing animals using heartbeat variation or accelerometers are very convenient due to their low cost and low intrusiveness, allowing animals to maintain their usual routine. In the case of accelerometers, it is possible to use them to measure activity, as well as to classify animal behavior, allowing their usage in other scenarios. Despite the obvious convenience of use, it is important to evaluate the measurement error and understand the validity of the measurement through a simplistic method. In this paper, data from accelerometers were used to classify behavior and measure animal activity, and an algorithm was developed to calculate the energy expended by sheep. The results of the energy expenditure calculations were subsequently compared with the values reported in the literature, and it was verified that the values obtained were within the reference ranges. Although it cannot be used as a real metering of energy expended, the method is promising, as it can be integrated with other complementary sources of information, such as the evolution of the animal\'s weight and ingestion time, thus providing assistance in animals\' dietary management.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation is an emerging target for obesity treatments due to its thermogenic properties stemming from its ability to shuttle energy through uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1). Recent rodent studies show how BAT and white adipose tissue (WAT) activity can be modulated to increase the expression of thermogenic proteins. Consequently, these alterations enable organisms to endure cold-temperatures and elevate energy expenditure, thereby promoting weight loss. In humans, BAT is less abundant in obese subjects and impacts of thermogenesis are less pronounced, bringing into question whether energy expending properties of BAT seen in rodents can be translated to human models. Our review will discuss pharmacological, hormonal, bioactive, sex-specific and environmental activators and inhibitors of BAT to determine the potential for BAT to act as a therapeutic strategy. We aim to address the feasibility of utilizing BAT modulators for weight reduction in obese individuals, as recent studies suggest that BAT\'s contributions to energy expenditure along with Ucp1-dependent and -independent pathways may or may not rectify energy imbalance characteristic of obesity.

OBJECTIVE: A sustained mismatch between energy intake (EI) and exercise energy expenditure (EEE) can lead to Low Energy Availability (LEA), as well as health and performance impairments characteristic of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). Research in females has identified specific LEA cut-points for the risks of developing physiological and performance disturbances. Cut-points in males have yet to be evaluated; therefore, this study examined the prevalence of LEA in highly trained male cross-country skiers. The key purpose of this study was to analyze EI, resting energy expenditure (REE), EEE, and energy availability (EA) in highly trained cross-country skiers during the preparation and competition periods. The secondary objective of our study was to evaluate the relative contribution of fats and carbohydrates to EI, REE, and EEE.
METHODS: EI was determined by an estimated 24 h diet recall method, REE was assessed by indirect calorimetry, and EEE was estimated from heart rate in 27 cross-country skiers.
RESULTS: EI amounted to 4050 ± 797 kcal/day on a typical training day (TD) and 5986 ± 924 kcal/day (p < 0.001) on a typical competition day (CD). REE on TDs (2111 ± 294 kcal/day or 30 ± 6 kcal/day/kg) was higher (p < 0.05) than on CDs (1891 ± 504 kcal/day or 27 ± 7 kcal/day/kg). The EA in the athletes was <15 kcal∙kg FFM-1·d-1 on TDs and <65 kcal∙kg FFM-1·d-1 on CDs. EI was not optimal, as indicated by low EA throughout TDs (June). This could be associated with insufficient EI along with a high amount of EEE (3690.7 ± 485.2 kcal/day). During the transition from TD to CD, an increase in the contribution of fats to EI and EEE was observed in cross-country skiers.
CONCLUSIONS: The conception of LEA and REDs and their potential implication for performance is underestimated among coaches and athletes. The importance of appropriate dietary strategies is essential to ensure that enough calories are consumed to support efficient training.

This study aimed to investigate the resting metabolic rate (RMR) in cross-training practitioners (advanced and novice) using indirect calorimetry (IC) and compare it with predictive equations proposed in the scientific literature.
METHODS: A cross-sectional and comparative study analyzed 65 volunteers, both sexes, practicing cross-training (CT). Anthropometry and body composition were assessed, and RMR was measured by IC (FitMate PRO®), bioimpedance (BIA-InBody 570®), and six predictive equations. Data normality was tested by the Kolgomorov-Smirnov test and expressed as mean ± standard deviation with 95% confidence intervals (CI), chi-square test was performed to verify ergogenic resources, and a Bland-Altman plot (B&A) was made to quantify the agreement between two quantitative measurements. One-way ANOVA was applied to body composition parameters, two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc was used to compare the RMR between groups, and two-way ANCOVA was used to analyze the adjusted RMR for body and skeletal muscle mass. The effect size was determined using Cohen\'s d considering the values adjusted by ANCOVA. If a statistical difference was found, post hoc Bonferroni was applied. The significance level was p < 0.05 for all tests.
RESULTS: The main results indicated that men showed a higher RMR than women, and the most discrepant equations were Cunningham, Tinsley (b), and Johnstone compared to IC. Tinsley\'s (a) equation indicated greater precision in measuring the RMR in CM overestimated it by only 1.9%, and BIA and the Harris-Benedict in CW overestimated RMR by only 0.1% and 3.4%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: The BIA and Harris-Benedict equation could be used reliably to measure the RMR of females, while Tinsley (a) is the most reliable method to measure the RMR of males when measuring with IC is unavailable. By knowing which RMR equations are closest to the gold standard, these professionals can prescribe a more assertive diet, training, or ergogenic resources. An assertive prescription increases performance and can reduce possible deleterious effects, maximizing physical sports performance.

BACKGROUND: The differential effects of pecans versus other popular snack foods on appetite and blood markers of metabolism and satiety have not been well studied. This study investigated the effects of a single mid-morning snack of pecans or tortilla chips on subjective appetite, food intake, blood measures of hormones and metabolites, and resting energy expenditure.
METHODS: Twenty participants with overweight and obesity were enrolled in a within-participants, randomized crossover trial. Participants had indwelling catheters placed for blood sampling and were fed a standardized breakfast, followed two hours later by a 250 kcal snack of either pecans or tortilla chips, and then by a self-selected lunch. Visual analog scale (VAS) appetite measures, blood markers, and energy expenditure were taken at intervals after food consumption.
RESULTS: VAS ratings, energy, food intake and macronutrient composition did not differ between treatment conditions, but glucose and insulin were significantly more elevated after tortilla chips. Free fatty acids (FFA), triglycerides (TG), peptide YY (PYY), and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) were higher after consuming pecans compared to tortilla chips.
CONCLUSIONS: Pecan consumption improves postprandial glucose and insulin profiles which would be beneficial to individuals at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Further studies are needed to investigate whether increased relative secretion of PYY and GLP-1 after eating pecans versus tortilla chips may affect subjective appetite and energy intake if consumed chronically.

Undernutrition (UN) increases child vulnerability to illness and mortality. Caused by a low amount and/or poor quality of food intake, it impacts physical, cognitive, and social development. Modern types of food consumption have given highly processed food a higher cultural value compared to minimally processed food.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect on growth, metabolism, physical activity (PA), memory, inflammation, and toxicity of an enriched black corn chip (BC) made with endemic ingredients on post-weaned UN mice.
METHODS: A chip was made with a mixture of black corn, fava beans, amaranth, and nopal cactus. To probe the effects of UN, UN was induced in 3wo post-weaned male C57Bl/6j mice through a low-protein diet (LPD-50% of the regular requirement of protein) for 3w. Then, the BC was introduced to the animals\' diet (17%) for 5w; murinometric parameters were measured, as were postprandial glucose response, PA, and short-term memory. Histological analysis was conducted on the liver and kidneys to measure toxicity. Gene expression related to energy balance, thermogenesis, and inflammation was measured in adipose and hypothalamic tissues.
RESULTS: Treatment with the BC significantly improved mouse growth, even with a low protein intake, as evidenced by a significant increase in body weight, tail length, cerebral growth, memory improvement, physical activation, normalized energy expenditure (thermogenesis), and orexigenic peptides (AGRP and NPY). It decreased anorexigenic peptides (POMC), and there was no tissue toxicity.
CONCLUSIONS: BC treatment, even with persistent low protein intake, is a promising strategy against UN, as it showed efficacy in correcting growth deficiency, cognitive impairment, and metabolic problems linked to treatment by adjusting energy expenditure, which led to the promotion of energy intake and regulation of thermogenesis, all by using low-cost, accessible, and endemic ingredients.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common endocrine disorder in premenopausal women, is associated with increased obesity, hyperandrogenism, and altered brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis. MicroRNAs play critical functions in brown adipocyte differentiation and maintenance. We aim to study the role of microRNA-21 (miR-21) in altered energy homeostasis and BAT thermogenesis in a PCOS mouse model of peripubertal androgen exposure.
METHODS: Three-week-old miR-21 knockout (miR21KO) or wild-type (WT) female mice were treated with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or vehicle for 90 days. Body composition was determined by EchoMRI. Energy expenditure (EE), oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were measured by indirect calorimetry. Androgen receptor (AR), and markers of adipogenesis, de novo lipogenesis, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, and thermogenesis were quantified by RT-qPCR and/or Western-blot.
RESULTS: MiR-21 ablation attenuated DHT-mediated increase in body weight while having no effect on fat or BAT mass. MiR-21 ablation attenuated DHT-mediated BAT AR upregulation. MiR-21 ablation did not alter EE; however, miR21KO DHT-treated mice have reduced VO2, VCO2, and RER. MiR-21 ablation reversed DHT-mediated decrease in food intake and increase in sleep time. MiR-21 ablation decreased some adipogenesis (Adipoq, Pparγ, and Cebpβ) and extracellular matrix remodeling (Mmp-9 and Timp-1) markers expression in DHT-treated mice. MiR-21 ablation abolished DHT-mediated increases in thermogenesis markers Cpt1a and Cpt1b, while decreasing CIDE-A expression.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that BAT miR-21 may play a role in regulating DHT-mediated thermogenic dysfunction in PCOS. Modulation of BAT miR-21 levels could be a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of PCOS-associated metabolic derangements.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormone disorder in premenopausal women, often linked to obesity and abnormal brown fat tissue activity. Women with PCOS have elevated male hormones, which are responsible for many metabolic problems. Our study focuses on understanding the role of microRNA-21 (miR-21) in the energy balance and brown fat tissue activity in a PCOS mouse model. We studied female mice with and without miR-21, treating them with a male hormone. We measured body composition and energy expenditure. We also analyzed the levels of specific genes and proteins related to fat tissue and energy production. Our findings showed that mice lacking miR-21 had less weight gain in response to male hormones, without fat or brown fat tissue mass changes. They also had reduced energy production, changed eating habits, and altered expression of genes related to fat tissue and energy production. In conclusion, our study suggests that miR-21 in brown fat tissue may regulate the energy imbalance caused by male hormones in PCOS. Adjusting miR-21 levels in brown fat tissue could be a new way to address the metabolic issues associated with PCOS.

UNASSIGNED: Estrogen deficiency is associated with unfavorable changes in body composition and metabolic health. While physical activity ameliorates several of the negative effects, loss of ovarian function is associated with decreased physical activity levels. It has been proposed that the changes in brain neurochemical levels and /or impaired skeletal muscle function may underlie this phenomenon.
UNASSIGNED: We studied the effect of estrogen deficiency induced via ovariectomy (OVX) in female Wistar rats (n = 64). Rats underwent either sham or OVX surgery and were allocated thereafter into four groups matched for body mass and maximal running capacity: sham/control, sham/max, OVX/control, and OVX/max, of which the max groups had maximal running test before euthanasia to induce acute response to exercise. Metabolism, spontaneous activity, and maximal running capacity were measured before (PRE) and after (POST) the surgeries. Three months following the surgery, rats were euthanized, and blood and tissue samples harvested. Proteins were analyzed from gastrocnemius muscle and retroperitoneal adipose tissue via Western blot. Brain neurochemical markers were measured from nucleus accumbens (NA) and hippocampus (HC) using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography.
UNASSIGNED: OVX had lower basal energy expenditure and higher body mass and retroperitoneal adipose tissue mass compared with sham group (p ≤ 0.005). OVX reduced maximal running capacity by 17% (p = 0.005) with no changes in muscle mass or phosphorylated form of regulatory light chain (pRLC) in gastrocnemius muscle. OVX was associated with lower serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) level in the NA compared with sham (p = 0.007). In response to acute exercise, OVX was associated with low serotonin level in the HC and high level in the NA (p ≤ 0.024).
UNASSIGNED: Our results highlight that OVX reduces maximal running capacity and affects the response of brain neurochemical levels to acute exercise in a brain region-specific manner. These results may offer mechanistic insight into why OVX reduces willingness to exercise.