Bacterial cellulose infusion: A comprehensive investigation into textural, tribological and temporal sensory evaluation of ice creams.

The study examines how adding bacterial cellulose also referred to as Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast (SCOBY) to ice cream affects the textural, tribological, and sensory attributes, particularly texture and mouthfeel perception. Analytical assessments were performed on three types: SCOBY-added ice cream and two reference samples (control and guar gum-added ice creams). Evaluations included physicochemical properties, textural and tribological characteristics, and dynamic sensory mouthfeel using the temporal dominance of sensation (TDS) methodology. SCOBY ice cream showed higher probiotics content, lower pH, and higher acidity than reference samples. The addition of SCOBY increased hardness and altered the textural properties. TDS analysis highlighted distinct temporal dominance patterns, with guar gum ice cream presenting a pronounced mouth/residual coating pre-swallowing, while SCOBY and control ice cream exhibited a thin/fluid perception. The frictional factor at 37 °C was positively correlated with the melting rate, graininess, and thin/fluid perception while negatively correlated with firmness, smoothness and mouthfeel liking. Additionally, the mouthfeel liking was higher with firm, smooth and mouth/residual coating sensations and lower with grainy and thin/fluid perception. In summary, incorporating SCOBY in ice cream formulations can provide health benefits and meet consumer preferences for natural ingredients, while ensuring careful optimization of mouthfeel.

Nutritional habits of professional team sport athletes: An insight into the carbohydrate, fluid, and caffeine habits of English Premier League football players during match play.

To better understand the in-match fuelling practices of elite football players and compare against current guidelines, we quantified the carbohydrate, fluid, and caffeine intake of players from an English Premier League club (n = 22) during 90 min of competitive match-play. Mean carbohydrate intake across match-play was 17 ± 11 g.h-1 with players demonstrating a preference towards CHO-containing fluids (58%) when compared with semi-solids (38%) and solids (14%), respectively. CHO intake was significantly lower than reported by players (17 ± 11 vs 24.8 ± 11 g.h-1, p < 0.001) during initial consultation. Fluid was ingested at a rate of 0.45 ± 0.14 L.h-1, with 54, 40 and 6% of ingested fluid coming from water, carbohydrate, and electrolyte-only solutions, respectively. The majority of players (91%) met the UEFA guidelines for fluid consumption. Of the players who consumed caffeine across match-play (55%) the average dose was 233 ± 148 mg (2.8 ± 1.1 mg.kg-1 body mass [BM]), which meets the UEFA consensus guidelines for caffeine intake. Caffeine capsules (42%) and caffeine containing fluids (30%) were the preferred format prior to the warm-up whilst caffeine gum was exclusively used prior to kick-off and during the half-time period (100%). We conclude that 81% of the total playing squad failed to meet the current UEFA CHO intake recommendations of 30-60 g.h-1, which may be attributed to the preference towards fluid-based CHOs as the chosen format of delivery.

Soccer players demonstrate sub-optimal in-match fuelling practices, with 81% of players failing to meet current UEFA CHO intake recommendations of 30-60 g.h⁻¹Players demonstrate a preference towards fluid as the primary mode of CHO delivery over the use of semi-solid and solid formats.These data highlight the need for future research to test the efficacy of lower doses of CHO on elements of both physical and technical soccer performance in a dose-response manner.Future research is also necessary to investigate the impact of traditional guidelines and recommendations within football-specific contexts to assess their effectiveness and relevance in practical applications.

Nutrition and Golf Performance: A Systematic Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Golf is played both recreationally and professionally by approximately 66.6 million people worldwide. Despite the potential for nutrition to influence golf performance, research in this area is somewhat limited. OBJECTIVE: To identify the existing literature regarding nutrition and golf and where the current research gaps lie. DESIGN: Scoping review. Online databases were used to retrieve data from 2003 to the present day. DATA SOURCES: A three-step search strategy identified relevant primary and secondary articles as well as grey literature. Published and unpublished articles in the English language, identified by searching electronic databases (ProQuest Central, Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus and PubMed) and reference searching. REVIEW METHODS: Relevant identified studies were screened for final inclusion. Data were extracted using a standardised tool to create a descriptive analysis and a thematic summary. In summary, studies were included if they focused on nutrition, hydration, energy requirements, supplements, or body composition in relation to golf. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Our initial search found 3616 relevant articles. Eighty-two of these articles were included for the scoping review. Nutrition has the potential to impact golf performance in areas including the maintenance of energy levels, cognitive function, and body composition. Currently, there is limited research available discussing the effects of nutrition interventions related specifically to golf performance. CONCLUSION: This scoping review highlights that more work is needed to provide golfers and practitioners with golf-specific nutrition research. The key areas for future golf-specific nutrition research include nutrition on cognitive performance, body composition, energy requirements, supplementation, and the potential role of nutrition for the travelling golfer. Systematic reviews could also be used to identify future priorities for nutrition and golf research.

Training with reduced carbohydrate availability affects markers of bone resorption and formation in male academy soccer players from the English Premier League.

PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that training with reduced carbohydrate (CHO) availability increases bone resorption in adolescent soccer players. METHODS: In a randomised crossover design, ten male players (age: 17.4 ± 0.8 years) from an English Premier League academy completed an acute 90-min field-based training session (occurring between 10:30-12:00) in conditions of high (TRAIN HIGH; 1.5 g.kg-1, 60 g, 1.5 g.kg-1 and 1.5 g.kg-1 consumed at 08:00, during training, 12:30 and 13:30, respectively) or low CHO availability (TRAIN LOW; 0 g.kg-1). Participants also completed a non-exercise trial (REST) under identical dietary conditions to TRAIN LOW. Venous blood samples were obtained at 08:30, 10:30, 12:30 and 14:30 for assessment of bone resorption (ßCTX), bone formation (PINP) and calcium metabolism (PTH and ACa). RESULTS: External training load did not differ (all P > 0.05) between TRAIN HIGH and TRAIN LOW, as evident for total distance (5.6 ± 0.8; 5.5 ± 0.1 km), average speed (81 ± 9; 85 ± 12 m.min-1) and high-speed running (350 ± 239; 270 ± 89 m). Area under the curve for both ßCTX and PINP was significantly greater (P < 0.01 and P = 0.03) in TRAIN LOW versus TRAIN HIGH, whilst no differences in PTH or ACa (P = 0.11 and P = 0.89) were observed between all three trials. CONCLUSION: CHO restriction before, during and after an acute soccer training session increased bone (re)modelling markers in academy players. Despite acute anabolic effects of bone formation, the long-term consequence of bone resorption may impair skeletal development and increase injury risk during growth and maturation.

Energy expenditure, intake and availability in female soccer players via doubly labelled water: Are we misrepresenting low energy availability?

Female soccer players have been identified as presenting with low energy availability (LEA), though the prevalence of LEA may be overestimated given inaccuracies associated with self-reporting dietary intakes. Accordingly, we aimed to quantify total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) via the doubly labelled water (DLW) method, energy intake (EI) and energy availability (EA). Adolescent female soccer players (n = 45; 16 ± 1 years) completed a 9-10 day 'training camp' representing their national team. Absolute and relative TDEE was 2683 ± 324 and 60 ± 7 kcal kg-1 fat free mass (FFM), respectively. Mean daily EI was lower (P < 0.01) when players self-reported using the remote food photography method (RFPM) (2047 ± 383 kcal day-1) over a 3-day period versus DLW derived EI estimates accounting for body mass (BM) changes (2545 ± 518 kcal day-1) over 7-8 days, representing a mean daily Δ of 499 ± 526 kcal day-1 and 22% error when using the RFPM. Estimated EA was different (P < 0.01) between methods (DLW: 48 ± 14 kcal kg-1 FFM, range: 22-82; RFPM: 37 ± 8 kcal kg-1 FFM, range: 22-54), such that prevalence of LEA (<30 kcal kg-1 FFM) was lower in DLW compared with RFPM (5% vs. 15%, respectively). Data demonstrate the potential to significantly underestimate EI when using self-report methods. This approach can therefore cause a misrepresentation and an over-prevalence of LEA, which is the underlying aetiology of 'relative energy deficiency in sport' (REDs). HIGHLIGHTS: What is the central question of this study? Do self-reported dietary intakes (via remote food photography method, RFPM) overestimate low energy availability (LEA) prevalence in female soccer players compared with energy intake evaluation from the doubly labelled water (DLW) method? What is the main finding and its importance? Estimated energy availability is greater with the DLW method compared with RFPM, such that the prevalence of LEA is greater when self-reporting dietary intakes. Accordingly, data demonstrate the potential to misrepresent the prevalence of LEA, an underlying factor in the aetiology of 'relative energy deficiency in sport' (REDs).

Exploring faba beans (Vicia faba L.): bioactive compounds, cardiovascular health, and processing insights.

Faba beans (Vicia faba L.), integral to the legume family, are a significant component of the global pulse market because of their nutritional richness and positive health implications. While existing reviews have extensively covered the nutritional composition and anti-nutritional factors of faba beans, and their utilization in food product development, the insights into the optimization of processing methods and upcycling the wastewater during faba bean processing remain insufficient. Therefore, this review focuses on consolidating information about their bioactive compounds, elucidating associated health benefits and unveiling the possible application of processing water derived from faba beans. Key issues discussed include the impact of bioactive compounds in faba beans on cardiovascular health and carcinogenic condition, the challenges in processing that affect bioactive content, and the potential nutritional and functional applications of processing water in food production.

A broken link: Knowledge of carbohydrate requirements do not predict carbohydrate intake around competition in endurance athletes.

Endurance athletes fail to meet carbohydrate (CHO) guidelines for competition, which may be due to limited knowledge. However, the relationship between knowledge and practice in this population is unknown. To investigate this, we assessed the dietary intake in 50 athletes (37 females) who completed endurance events ≥2.5 h in duration and compared CHO intake against the carbohydrates for endurance athletes in competition questionnaire validated nutrition knowledge questionnaire, with specific questions related to CHO loading, pre-competition meal and during-competition intake. CHO-loading guidelines (10-12 g · kg-1 · day-1) were met in practice by n = 5 (10%), but there was no relationship between identified requirements (range 0-12 g · kg-1 · day-1) and actual intake (rs = 0.133, p = 0.358), with the n = 18 (36%) who correctly identified requirements, ingesting 6.1 ± 1.9 g · kg-1 · day-1. CHO intake for pre-competition meal guidelines (1-4 g · kg-1) was met in practice by n = 40 (80%), but there was no relationship between identified requirements (range 0 to >4 g · kg-1) and actual intake (rs = 0.101, p = 0.487), with n = 19 (38%) who correctly identified guidelines requirements, ingesting 1.4 ± 0.6 g · kg-1. CHO intake during-competition guidelines (60-90 g · h-1) was met in practice by n = 18 (36%), but there was no relationship between the amounts of CHO required (range 30 to >90 g/h) and actual intake (rs = 0.028, p = 0.849), with n = 32 (64%) who correctly identified guidelines requirements, ingesting 56 ± 20 g · h-1. Results show no relationship between the knowledge of CHO recommendations and practice, suggesting that theoretical knowledge does not guarantee the achievement of best practice and other important factors may ultimately determine practice.

Meta-analysis of the human gut microbiome uncovers shared and distinct microbial signatures between diseases.

Microbiome studies have revealed gut microbiota's potential impact on complex diseases. However, many studies often focus on one disease per cohort. We developed a meta-analysis workflow for gut microbiome profiles and analyzed shotgun metagenomic data covering 11 diseases. Using interpretable machine learning and differential abundance analysis, our findings reinforce the generalization of binary classifiers for Crohn's disease (CD) and colorectal cancer (CRC) to hold-out cohorts and highlight the key microbes driving these classifications. We identified high microbial similarity in disease pairs like CD vs ulcerative colitis (UC), CD vs CRC, Parkinson's disease vs type 2 diabetes (T2D), and schizophrenia vs T2D. We also found strong inverse correlations in Alzheimer's disease vs CD and UC. These findings, detected by our pipeline, provide valuable insights into these diseases. IMPORTANCE: Assessing disease similarity is an essential initial step preceding a disease-based approach for drug repositioning. Our study provides a modest first step in underscoring the potential of integrating microbiome insights into the disease similarity assessment. Recent microbiome research has predominantly focused on analyzing individual diseases to understand their unique characteristics, which by design excludes comorbidities in individuals. We analyzed shotgun metagenomic data from existing studies and identified previously unknown similarities between diseases. Our research represents a pioneering effort that utilizes both interpretable machine learning and differential abundance analysis to assess microbial similarity between diseases.

Contribution of mono- and co-culture of Pseudomonas paralactis, Acinetobacter MN21 and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia to the spoilage of chill-stored lamb.

Exploring the contribution of common microorganisms to spoilage is of great significance in inhibiting spoilage in lamb. This work investigated the extent of protein degradation and profile changes of free amino acids (FAAs), free fatty acids (FFAs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in lamb caused by single- and co-culture of the common aerobic spoilage bacteria, P. paralactis, Ac. MN21 and S. maltophilia. Meanwhile, some key VOCs produced by the three bacteria during lamb spoilage were also screened by orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis and difference value in VOCs content between inoculated groups and sterile group. Lamb inoculated with P. paralactis had the higher total viable counts, pH, total volatile base nitrogen and TCA-soluble peptides than those with the other two bacteria. Some FAAs and FFAs could be uniquely degraded by P. paralactis but not Ac. MN21 and S. maltophilia, such as Arg, Glu, C15:0, C18:0 and C18:1n9t. Co-culture of the three bacteria significantly promoted the overall spoilage, including bacterial growth, proteolysis and lipolysis. Key VOCs produced by P. paralactis were 2, 3-octanedione, those by Ac. MN21 were 1-octanol, octanal, hexanoic acid, 1-pentanol and hexanoic acid methyl ester, and that by S. maltophilia were hexanoic acid. The production of extensive key-VOCs was significantly and negatively correlated with C20:0, C23:0 and C18:ln9t degradation. This study can provide a basis for inhibiting common spoilage bacteria and promoting high-quality processing of fresh lamb.

Plant Protein Blend Ingestion Stimulates Postexercise Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis Rates Equivalently to Whey in Resistance-Trained Adults.

PURPOSE: Whey protein ingestion is typically considered an optimal dietary strategy to maximize myofibrillar protein synthesis (MyoPS) after resistance exercise. Although single-source plant protein ingestion is typically less effective, at least partly, due to less favorable amino acid profiles, this could theoretically be overcome by blending plant-based proteins with complementary amino acid profiles. We compared the postexercise MyoPS response after the ingestion of a novel plant-derived protein blend with an isonitrogenous bolus of whey protein. METHODS: Ten healthy, resistance-trained, young adults (male/female: 8/2; age: 26 ± 6 yr; BMI: 24 ± 3 kg·m -2 ) received a primed continuous infusion of L-[ ring - 2 H 5 ]-phenylalanine and completed a bout of bilateral leg resistance exercise before ingesting 32 g protein from whey (WHEY) or a plant protein blend (BLEND; 39.5% pea, 39.5% brown rice, 21.0% canola) in a randomized, double-blind crossover fashion. Blood and muscle samples were collected at rest, and 2 and 4 h after exercise and protein ingestion, to assess plasma amino acid concentrations, and postabsorptive and postexercise MyoPS rates. RESULTS: Plasma essential amino acid availability over the 4 h postprandial postexercise period was ~44% higher in WHEY compared with BLEND ( P = 0.04). From equivalent postabsorptive values (WHEY, 0.042 ± 0.020%·h -1 ; BLEND, 0.043 ± 0.015%·h -1 ) MyoPS rates increased after exercise and protein ingestion (time effect; P < 0.001) over a 0- to 2-h period (WHEY, 0.085 ± 0.037%·h -1 ; BLEND, 0.080 ± 0.037%·h -1 ) and 2- to 4-h period (WHEY, 0.085 ± 0.036%·h -1 ; BLEND, 0.086 ± 0.034%·h -1 ), with no differences between conditions during either period or throughout the entire (0-4 h) postprandial period (time-condition interactions; all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ingestion of a novel plant-based protein blend stimulates postexercise MyoPS to an equivalent extent as whey protein, demonstrating the utility of plant protein blends to optimize postexercise skeletal muscle reconditioning.

Meta-analysis of the human gut microbiome uncovers shared and distinct microbial signatures between diseases.

Microbiome studies have revealed gut microbiota's potential impact on complex diseases. However, many studies often focus on one disease per cohort. We developed a meta-analysis workflow for gut microbiome profiles and analyzed shotgun metagenomic data covering 11 diseases. Using interpretable machine learning and differential abundance analysis, our findings reinforce the generalization of binary classifiers for Crohn's disease (CD) and colorectal cancer (CRC) to hold-out cohorts and highlight the key microbes driving these classifications. We identified high microbial similarity in disease pairs like CD vs ulcerative colitis (UC), CD vs CRC, Parkinson's disease vs type 2 diabetes (T2D), and schizophrenia vs T2D. We also found strong inverse correlations in Alzheimer's disease vs CD and UC. These findings detected by our pipeline provide valuable insights into these diseases.

Perspectives on the role of nutrition in influencing academy soccer player development and performance: A qualitative case study of key stakeholders from an English category one soccer academy.

This study aimed to explore player and stakeholder perceptions of the role of nutrition in influencing the development of male academy soccer players. Semi-structured interviews (28 ± 13 mins in length) were conducted with 31 participants from an English category one academy, including players (Youth Development Phase, YDP: n = 6; Professional Development Phase, PDP: n = 4), parents/guardians (n = 10), coaches (n = 3), sport scientists (n = 3), physiotherapists (n = 3), and catering (n = 2). Via reflexive thematic analysis, data demonstrate an apparent lack of understanding and awareness on the role of nutrition in influencing player development, especially in relation to growth, maturation and reducing injury risk. Players highlighted the influence of their parents on their dietary behaviours, whilst parents also called for education to better support their sons. Notably, players and stakeholders perceived that the daily schedule of an academy soccer player presents as "too busy to eat", especially in relation to before school, and before and after training. The results demonstrate the necessity for the co-creation of player and stakeholder specific nutrition education programmes as an initial step towards positively impacting the nutrition culture associated with the academy soccer environment.

Energy Expenditure of Elite Male and Female Professional Tennis Players During Habitual Training.

Understanding the daily energy expenditure of athletes during training is important to support recovery, adaptation, and the maintenance of performance. The aim of the current research was to assess the total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and the acute energy expenditure (EE) of tennis training sessions during habitual training of elite tennis players. Using a cohort study design, 27 (n = 10, male; age; 22.3 ± 3.2 years and n = 17, female; age: 23.8 ± 3.5 years) elite singles tennis players were assessed for TDEE and tennis training EE. Using Actiheart activity monitors during a 2- to 5-day training period, male players were analyzed for 26 days and 33 (1.3 ± 0.5 sessions/day) tennis training sessions, and female players for 43 days and 58 (1.2 ± 0.4 sessions/day) tennis training sessions. Male TDEE (4,708 ± 583 kcal/day) was significantly higher than female (3,639 ± 305 kcal/day). Male absolute and relative tennis training EEs (10.2 ± 2.3 kcal/min and 7.9 ± 1.4 kcal·hr-1·kg-1) were significantly higher than those of females (7.6 ± 1.0 kcal/min and 6.8 ± 0.9 kcal·hr-1·kg-1). The resting metabolic rate was assessed via indirect calorimetry. The physical activity level for both groups was 2.3 AU. The TDEE of male and female players during habitual training now highlights the continual cycle of high energy demands experienced by the elite tennis player. The broad ranges of TDEE and EE reported here suggest individual assessment and nutritional planning be prioritized, with a particular focus on carbohydrate requirements.

The Relationships Between External and Internal Training Loads in Mixed Martial Arts.

PURPOSE: As a multidisciplined combat sport, relationships between external and internal training loads and intensities of mixed martial arts (MMA) have not been described. The aim of this study was to determine the external loads and intensities of MMA training categories and their relationship to internal loads and intensities. METHODS: Twenty MMA athletes (age = 23.3 [5.3] y, mass = 72.1 [7.2] kg, stature = 171.5 [8.4] cm) were observed for 2 consecutive weeks. Internal load and intensity (session rating of perceived exertion [sRPE]) were calculated using the Foster RPE for the session overall (sRPE-training load [TL]) and segmented RPE (segRPE-TL) for each training category: warm-up, striking drills, wrestling drills, Brazilian jiujitsu (BJJ) drills, striking sparring, wrestling sparring, BJJ sparring, and MMA sparring. External load and intensity were measured via Catapult OptimEye S5 for the full duration of each session using accumulated Playerload (PLdACC) and PLdACC per minute (PLdACC·min-1). Differences in loads between categories and days were assessed via Bayesian analysis of variance (BF10 ≥ 3). Predictive relationships between internal and external variables were calculated using Bayesian regression. RESULTS: Session overall sRPE-TL = 448.6 (191.1) arbitrary units (AU); PLdACC = 310.6 (112) AU. Category segRPE-TL range = 33.8 (22.6) AU (warm-up) to 122.8 (54.6) AU (BJJ drills). Category PLdACC range = 44 (36.3) AU (warm-up) to 125 (58.8) AU (MMA sparring). Neither sRPE-TL nor PLdACC changed between days. PLdACC was different between categories. Evidence for regressions was strong-decisive except for BJJ drills (BF10 = 7, moderate). R2 range = .50 to .77, except for warm-up (R2 = .17), BJJ drills (R2 = .27), BJJ sparring (R2 = .49), and session overall (R2 = .13). CONCLUSIONS: While MMA training categories may be differentiated in terms of external load, overall session external load does not change within or between weeks. Resultant regression equations may be used to appropriately plan MMA technical/tactical training loads.

Learning sequence, structure, and function representations of proteins with language models.

The sequence-structure-function relationships that ultimately generate the diversity of extant observed proteins is complex, as proteins bridge the gap between multiple informational and physical scales involved in nearly all cellular processes. One limitation of existing protein annotation databases such as UniProt is that less than 1% of proteins have experimentally verified functions, and computational methods are needed to fill in the missing information. Here, we demonstrate that a multi-aspect framework based on protein language models can learn sequence-structure-function representations of amino acid sequences, and can provide the foundation for sensitive sequence-structure-function aware protein sequence search and annotation. Based on this model, we introduce a multi-aspect information retrieval system for proteins, Protein-Vec, covering sequence, structure, and function aspects, that enables computational protein annotation and function prediction at tree-of-life scales.

Under-Fuelling for the Work Required? Assessment of Dietary Practices and Physical Loading of Adolescent Female Soccer Players during an Intensive International Training and Game Schedule.

Previous studies demonstrate that "under-fuelling" (i.e., reduced carbohydrate (CHO) and energy intake (EI) in relation to recommended guidelines) is prevalent within adult female soccer players, the consequence of which may have acute performance and chronic health implications. However, the dietary practices of adolescent female soccer players, a population who may be particularly at risk for the negative aspects of low energy availability (LEA), are not well documented. Accordingly, we aimed to quantify EI and CHO intake, physical loading and estimated energy availability (EA) in elite national team adolescent female soccer players (n = twenty-three; age, 17.9 ± 0.5 years) during a 10-day training and game schedule comprising two match days on day six (MDa) and nine (MDb). The players self-reported their EI via the remote food photography method, whilst the physical loading and associated exercise energy expenditure were assessed via GPS technology. The relative CHO intake was significantly greater (all p < 0.05) on the day before the first match (MD-1a) (4.1 ± 0.8 g·kg-1), on the day before the second match (MD-1b) (4.3 ± 1.1 g·kg-1), MDa (4.8 ± 1.2 g·kg-1) and MDb (4.8 ± 1.4 g·kg-1) in comparison to most other days (<4 g·kg-1). The mean daily measured EA over the 10-day period was 34 ± 12 kcal·kg FFM-1·day-1 (with six players, i.e., 34%, presenting LEA), though, when adjusting the energy intake for potential under-reporting, these values changed substantially (44 ± 14 kcal·kg FFM-1·day-1, only one player was classed as presenting LEA). Such data suggest that the prevalence of LEA amongst female team sport athletes may be over-estimated. Nonetheless, players are still likely under-fuelling for the work required in relation to the daily CHO recommendations (i.e., >6 g·kg-1) for intensive training and game schedules. These data provide further evidence for the requirement to create and deliver targeted player and stakeholder education and behaviour change interventions (especially for younger athletes) that aim to promote increased daily CHO intake in female soccer players.

Daily energy requirements of male academy soccer players are greater than age-matched non-academy soccer players: A doubly labelled water investigation.

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) of male academy soccer players is greater than players not enrolled on a formalised academy programme. English Premier League academy (ACAD: n = 8, 13 years, 50 ± 6 kg, 88 ± 3% predicted adult stature, PAS) and non-academy players (NON-ACAD: n = 6, 13 years, 53 ± 12 kg, 89 ± 3% PAS) were assessed for TDEE (via doubly labelled water) during a 14-day in-season period. External loading was evaluated during training (ACAD: 8 sessions, NON-ACAD: 2 sessions) and games (2 games for both ACAD and NON-ACAD) via GPS, and daily physical activity was evaluated using triaxial accelerometry. Accumulative duration of soccer activity (ACAD: 975 ± 23 min, NON-ACAD: 397 ± 2 min; p < 0.01), distance covered (ACAD: 54.2 ± 8.3 km, NON-ACAD: 21.6 ± 4.7 km; p < 0.05) and time engaged in daily moderate-to-vigorous (ACAD: 124 ± 17 min, NON-ACAD: 79 ± 18 min; p < 0.01) activity was greater in academy players. Academy players displayed greater absolute (ACAD: 3380 ± 517 kcal · d-1, NON-ACAD: 2641 ± 308 kcal · d-1; p < 0.05) and relative TDEE (ACAD: 66 ± 6 kcal · kg · d-1, NON-ACAD: 52 ± 10 kcal · kg · d-1; p < 0.05) versus non-academy players. Given the injury risk associated with high training volumes during growth and maturation, data demonstrate the requirement for academy players to consume sufficient energy (and carbohydrate) intake to support the enhanced energy cost of academy programmes.

Protein remote homology detection and structural alignment using deep learning.

Exploiting sequence-structure-function relationships in biotechnology requires improved methods for aligning proteins that have low sequence similarity to previously annotated proteins. We develop two deep learning methods to address this gap, TM-Vec and DeepBLAST. TM-Vec allows searching for structure-structure similarities in large sequence databases. It is trained to accurately predict TM-scores as a metric of structural similarity directly from sequence pairs without the need for intermediate computation or solution of structures. Once structurally similar proteins have been identified, DeepBLAST can structurally align proteins using only sequence information by identifying structurally homologous regions between proteins. It outperforms traditional sequence alignment methods and performs similarly to structure-based alignment methods. We show the merits of TM-Vec and DeepBLAST on a variety of datasets, including better identification of remotely homologous proteins compared with state-of-the-art sequence alignment and structure prediction methods.