Which training load indicators are greater correlated with maturation and wellness variables in elite U14 soccer players?

BACKGROUND: Monitoring of training load is done to improve physical performance and minimize the incidence of injuries. The study examined the correlation between accumulated training load parameters based on periods with maturity (i.e., maturity offset and peak height velocity -PHV- and wellness variables -e.g., stress and sleep quality-). The second aim was to analyze the multi-linear regression between the above indicators. METHODS: Twenty elite young U14 soccer players (M = 13.26 ± 0.52 years, 95% CI [13.02, 13.51]) were evaluated over 26 weeks (early, mid, and end-season) to obtain stress, sleep quality, and measures of workload in the season (accumulated acute workload [AW], accumulated chronic workload [CW], accumulated acute: chronic workload ratio [ACWLR], accumulated training monotony [TM], accumulated training strain [TS]). RESULTS: The analysis revealed a moderate, statistically significant negative correlation between sleep quality and training monotony (r = -0.461, p < 0.05). No significant correlations were observed between other variables (p > 0.05). In the multi-linear regression analysis, maturity, PHV, sleep, and stress collectively accounted for variances of 17% in AW, 17.1% in CW, 11% in ACWLR, 21.3% in TM, and 22.6% in TS. However, individual regression coefficients for these predictors were not statistically significant (p > 0.05), indicating limited predictive power. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the impact of sleep quality on training monotony, underscoring the importance of managing training load to mitigate the risks of overtraining. The non-significant regression coefficients suggest the complexity of predicting training outcomes based on the assessed variables. These insights emphasize the need for a holistic approach in training load management and athlete wellness monitoring.

Benchmarking Diet Quality to Assess Nutritional Risk in Hemodialysis Patients: Applying Adequacy and Moderation Metrics of the Hemodialysis-Healthy Eating Index.

OBJECTIVES: This study modified Healthy Eating Index (HEI) based on hemodialysis (HD)-specific nutritional guidelines and investigated associations between the diet quality (DQ) and nutritional risk in HD patients. METHODS: The HD-HEI tool adapted the Malaysian Dietary Guidelines 2010 framework according to HD-specific nutrition guidelines. This HD-HEI was applied to 3-day dietary records of 382 HD patients. Relationships between HD-HEI scores and nutritional parameters were tested by partial correlations. Binary logistic regression models adjusted with confounders were used to determine adjusted odds ratio (adjOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for nutritional risk based on HD-HEI scores categorization. RESULTS: The total HD-HEI score (51.3 ± 10.2) for this HD patient population was affected by ethnicity (Ptrend < .001) and sex (P = .003). No patient achieved "good" DQ (score: 81-100), while DQ of 54.5% patients were classified as "needs improvement" (score: 51-80) and remaining as "poor" (score: 0-51). Total HD-HEI scores were positively associated with dietary energy intake (DEI), dietary protein intake (DPI), dry weight, and handgrip strength, but inversely associated with Dietary Monotony Index (DMI) (all P < .05). Individually, scores for refined grain, total protein, and animal protein were positively associated with DEI (all P < .05), while total, animal, fish, and vegetable proteins indicated positive associations with DPI (all P < .05). Moderating metrics for convenience meals, saturated fats, sodium, and fluid negatively correlated toward DEI with similar trends for DPI excepting convenience meals and fluids. "Poor" DQ was associated with DMI ≥ 29.2 (adjOR 18.83, 95% CI 9.36-37.86, P < .001), Malnutrition Inflammation Score ≥ 5 (adjOR 1.78, 95% CI 1.01-3.15, P = .045), and protein energy wasting (adjOR 1.96, 95% CI 1.14-3.34, P = .031), but became nullified with covariate adjustments. "Poor" DQ was also associated with low lean tissue mass (<32.6 kg) in men (adjOR 2.38, 95% CI 1.01-5.58, P = .046) but not women. CONCLUSION: "Poor" DQ was associated with poor nutritional status in Malaysian HD patients, who should be targeted for nutritional counseling.

[Study on human fatigue during monotonous sitting-posture work].

Objective: In this study, the occupational fatigue caused by long-time sitting-posture work was studied. Also, the physical and psychological factors which affect on human fatigue of workers suffering from monotonous sitting-position were analyzed. Methods: In 2021, a total of 30 subjects, including 15 males and 15 females, were selected to complete a 4-hour simulated sitting-position assembly task in the laboratory. The "Borg's RPE" was used to measure the subjects' subjective fatigue and feeling of monotony, the polyconductive physiological recorder was used to measure the subjects' EMG, and the wireless motion-capture evaluation system was used to measure the kinematics of the subjects. Results: When engaged in monotonous work tasks, there was a significant positive correlation between workers' monotony and subjective fatigue, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.976 to 0.988 (P<0.050) . At the beginning of work, the subjective fatigue of the neck was more significant (P=0.046) . As working time increased, the back fatigue was significantly higher than that of the neck (P=0.029) . After 4 hours of work, the MPF value of the back erector spinae EMG decreased significantly (P=0.025) . The body posture data showed that the shoulder and neck indicators began to change significantly after about 2 hours of work (P(neck)=0.032, P(shoulder)=0.021) . The waist and hip indicators began to change significantly after about 4 hours of work (P(left hip)=0.031, P(right hip)=0.028) . The flexion angle of the neck first increased and then decreased; the flexion angle of the waist and hip continued to increase with the working time. Conclusion: It was found that the fatigue effect of monotonous sitting-posture work on the operator is mainly reflected in the lower back. The monotony of the work exacerbates the operator's subjective fatigue feeling. The operator should be given corresponding protection and set the work content reasonably. It is recommended to have appropriate activities or short breaks every 2 work-hour.

In-Season Internal and External Workload Variations between Starters and Non-Starters-A Case Study of a Top Elite European Soccer Team.

Background and Objectives: Interpretation of the load variations across a period seems important to control the weekly progression or variation of the load, or to identify in-micro- and mesocycle variations. Thus, the aims of this study were twofold: (a) to describe the in-season variations of training monotony, training strain and acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) through session ratings of perceived exertion (s-RPE), total distance and high-speed running (HSR); and (b) to compare those variations between starters and non-starters. Materials and Methods: Seventeen professional players from a European First League team participated in this study. They were divided in two groups: starters (n = 9) and non-starters (n = 8). The players were monitored daily over a 41-week period of competition where 52 matches occurred during the 2015-2016 in-season. Through the collection of s-RPE, total distance and HSR, training monotony, training strain and ACWR were calculated for each measure, respectively. Data were analyzed across ten mesocycles (M: 1 to 10). Repeated measures ANOVA was used with the Bonferroni post hoc test to compare M and player status. Results: The results revealed no differences between starters vs. non-starters (p > 0.05). M6 had a greater number of matches and displayed higher values for monotony (s-RPE, total distance and HSR), strain (only for total distance) and ACWR (s-RPE, TD and HSR). However, the variation patterns for all indexes displayed some differences. Conclusions: The values of both starters and non-starters showed small differences, thus suggesting that the adjustments of training workloads that had been applied over the season helped to reduce differences according to the player status. Even so, there were some variations over the season (microcycles and mesocycles) for the whole team. This study could be used as a reference for future coaches, staff and scientists.

[Correlation of job monotony and social support on daily hassle: a cross-sectional study based on natural gas field workers].

Objective: To explore the correlation of job monotony and social support on daily hassle. Methods: A convenient sampling survey of demographics characteristics, job monotony, social support and daily hassle was conducted on 1 466 natural gas field workers by questionnaire in October; 2018. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the correlation of job monotony and social support on daily hassle. Results: The age of 1 466 subjects was (44.47±8.0) years and the length of service was (20.46±5.77) years. There were 258(17.6%), 173(11.8%), 799(54.5%), 120(8.2%) and 116(7.9%) subjects from production and marketing department, processing plant, branch, maintenance department and emergency center respectively. There were 374(25.5%) and 1 092(74.5%) subjects with high and low level of job monotony, and 398(27.1%), 648(44.2%) and 420(28.6%) subjects with high, middle and low level of social support. There were 464(31.7%) and 1 002(68.3%) subjects with high and low daily tension respectively. Compared with the low level of job monotony, the high level of job monotony had a higher risk of daily hassle(OR=4.83,P<0.001), and compared with the high level of social support, the middle and low level of social support had a higher risk of daily hassle(OR=1.25, 2.24,P<0.05). Conclusion: Job monotony and social support were associated with daily hassle.

Accelerometry-based variables in professional soccer players: comparisons between periods of the season and playing positions.

The aim of this study was to provide reference data of variation in external training loads for weekly periods within the annual season. Specifically, we aimed to compare the weekly acute load, monotony, and training strain of accelerometry-based measures across a professional soccer season (pre-season, first and second halves of the season) according to players' positions. Nineteen professional players were monitored daily for 45 weeks using an 18-Hz global positioning system to obtain measures of high metabolic load distance (HMLD), impacts, and high intensity accelerations and decelerations. Workload indices of acute load, training monotony, and training strain were calculated weekly for each of the measures. The HMLD had greater training strain values in the pre-season than in the first (p ≤ 0.001; d = 0.793) and second halves of the season (p ≤ 0.001; d = 0.858). Comparisons between playing positions showed that midfielders had the highest weekly acute load of HMLD (6901 arbitrary units [AU]), while central defenders had the lowest (4986 AU). The pre-season period was associated with the highest acute and strain load of HMLD and number of impacts, with a progressive decrease seen during the season. In conclusion, coaches should consider paying greater attention to variations in HMLD and impacts between periods of the season and between players to individualize training accordingly.

[Influence of monotony of work on psychophysiological health of drivers of electric rolling stock of railway transport].

The article presents the results of the author's research that determines the degree of influence of monotonous (monotonous) labor processes on the drivers (and their assistants) of traction rolling stock of railway transport. Information is collected in order to develop a set of measures to overcome the monotony of work, improve the quality of working life and psychophysiological health of employees, and as a result, ensure traffic safety, improving the safety system for drivers and improving the quality of passenger transport.

Boredom in the Workplace: A New Look at an Old Problem.

OBJECTIVE: We review historical and more recent efforts in boredom research and related fields. A framework is presented that organizes the various facets of boredom, particularly in supervisory control settings, and research gaps and future potential areas for study are highlighted. BACKGROUND: Given the ubiquity of boredom across a wide spectrum of work environments--exacerbated by increasingly automated systems that remove humans from direct, physical system interaction and possibly increasing tedium in the workplace--there is a need not only to better understand the multiple facets of boredom in work environments but to develop targeted mitigation strategies. METHOD: To better understand the relationships between the various influences and outcomes of boredom, a systems-based framework, called the Boredom Influence Diagram, is proposed that describes various elements of boredom and their interrelationships. RESULTS: Boredom is closely related to vigilance, attention management, and task performance. This review highlights the need to develop more naturalistic experiments that reflect the characteristics of a boring work environment. CONCLUSION: With the increase in automation, boredom in the workplace will likely become a more prevalent issue for motivation and retention. In addition, developing continuous measures of boredom based on physiological signals is critical. APPLICATION: Personnel selection and improvements in system and task design can potentially mitigate boredom. However, more work is needed to develop and evaluate other potential interventions.

Changes of the psychophysical state and feeling of wellness of professional soccer players during pre-season and in-season periods.

Perceived changes due to training monotony, strain, sleep, stress, fatigue, muscle soreness and the influence of specific training sessions on the affective valence were explored in professional soccer players. Seventeen players completed the Hooper questionnaire, the ratings of perceived exertion and feeling scale (FS) every training/match day before and during the soccer season. Higher players' training loads were recorded during pre-season when compared with in-season period (2558.1 ± 262.4 vs. 1642.8 ± 169.3 a.u., p < 0.01; respectively). The ratings of sleep, stress, fatigue and muscle soreness in pre-season were higher than those observed during in-season (p < 0.01) whereas the feeling score was lower (p < 0.01). Furthermore, training sessions, including technical/tactical work, induced an improved feeling score but linked with a lower training load when compared with sessions focus on physical emphasis (p < 0.01). Pre-season period of training induces a significantly more strenuous and exhausting demands on professional soccer players compared with the in-season period at the elite level.

Effects of daily consumption of one or varied peanut flavors on acceptance and intake.

To realize the health benefits associated with peanut consumption, it is important that they remain acceptable with regular intake. Peanuts are marketed with various flavorings so that consumers will not become fatigued by frequent consumption of any single flavor. This study sought to determine whether liking of peanuts or compliance to a peanut feeding intervention would differ based on receiving an individual flavor or a variety of flavors. Participants (n=151) were directed to consume 42 g peanuts/d for 12 weeks as 14-g servings of 3 different flavors (n=50) or a single flavor (n=25-26/group). The trial was randomized, with a parallel-group design. Neither the peanut flavor consumed nor the presence of variety had an impact on liking of the peanuts or compliance with the study protocol (p>0.05). Men had significantly greater compliance and liking ratings than women (p<0.05), but liking declines did not differ based on sex. Eating attitudes and dietary restraint did not correlate with liking or compliance. Peanuts were generally well-liked in the study, with a mean liking of 69 on a 100-mm visual analogue scale and a decrease of less than 15% over 12 weeks. Overall compliance to the protocol was 96.9%, suggesting participants were able to incorporate peanuts into their diet on a daily basis. These findings suggest a recommendation to regularly consume peanuts would be well-tolerated, facilitating their contribution to a healthy diet. The study was conducted between February 2010 and May 2012 at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01886326.

Psychophysiology of Monotonous Driving, Fatigue and Sleepiness in Train and Non-Professional Drivers: Driver Safety Implications.

Fatigue and sleepiness are complex bodily states associated with monotony as well as physical and cognitive impairment, accidents, injury, and illness. Moreover, these states are often characteristic of professional driving. However, most existing work has focused on motor vehicle drivers, and research examining train drivers remains limited. As such, the present study psychophysiologically examined monotonous driving, fatigue, and sleepiness in a group of passenger train drivers and a group of non-professional drivers. Sixty-three train drivers and thirty non-professional drivers participated in the present study, which captured 32-lead electroencephalogram (EEG) data during a monotonous driving task. Fatigue and sleepiness were self-evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Karolinksa Sleepiness Scale, and the Checklist of Individual Strength. Unexpectedly, fatigue and sleepiness scores did not significantly differ between the groups; however, train drivers generally scored lower than non-professional drivers, which may be indicative of individual and/or industry attempts to reduce fatigue. Across both groups, fatigue and sleepiness scores were negatively correlated with theta, alpha, and beta EEG variables clustered towards the fronto-central and temporal regions. Broadly, these associations may reflect a monotony-associated blunting of neural activity that is associated with a self-reported fatigue state.

Monitoring load, wellness, and psychological variables in female and male youth national team football players during international and domestic playing periods.

Aim: To study differences in total load exposure, wellness, and psychological variables in youth female (N = 19) and male (N = 20) national team football players during domestic and international playing periods, respectively. Procedures: The players filled out questionnaires on well-being, stress, and resilience before and after both playing periods lasting 8 days each. The Hooper index was used to monitor daily wellness levels during both playing periods. The number of training sessions and matches were recorded, and the session rating of perceived exertion was collected. Training load, monotony, and strain were calculated. Daily measurements were used to evaluate in-period changes, and composite scores were used to describe differences between periods. Results: The international compared to the domestic playing period was for both groups characterized by more matches played, longer field training session durations, and of fewer gym-based sessions (P < 0.05). The male players increased total exposure time (25%; P < 0.05), monotony (P < 0.001), and strain (P < 0.001), which was not changed in the female players. Well-being decreased (P < 0.05) during the international playing period in male players. Stress levels were higher (P < 0.05) for both genders during the international compared to the domestic playing period. During the international playing period, positive correlations were found between the initial levels of stress, and the change in stress (P = 0.03; r2 = 0.12), and between the changes in total load and changes in well-being (P = 0.02; r2 = 0.12), whereas a negative correlation was found between the changes in wellness and stress (P = 0.03; r2 = 0.14). Conclusion: A playing period characterized by increased match focus, longer field training sessions, and fewer gym-based training activities may lead to changes in the physical and mental profiles of youth national team football players. Alterations to load exposure and wellness may influence mental health. Players with high initial stress levels may be subjected to greater changes compared to other players. Sports scientists and medical staff may benefit from initiating structured monitoring systems to track alterations in physical load and mental health in youth national team players.

Variations in Accumulated-Training Load Parameters and Locomotor Demand with Consideration of Puberty in Elite Young Soccer Players.

The study's purposes were to examine the associations of training load parameters with locomotor demand and puberty status in elite young soccer players and to predict the percentage of changes in their performance ability with adjustments to the training load parameters, using multivariate regression analysis, while considering PHV and maturity offset. Seventeen male players (15−16 years old) participated in this study. Anthropometrics, body composition, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), and puberty status (for calculating PHV) and maturity offset were assessed. The results demonstrated substantial differences between the PHV, VO2max, and load parameters (acute and chronic workload (CWL)) over a soccer season. A substantial relationship existed between the workload parameters (VO2max, CWL, and training monotony (TM)) and maturity offset. All of the variables, except for training strain, demonstrated significant variances in relation to the differences between the first and second halves (p < 0.05). Aerobic performance can be estimated using the CWL, TM, and maturity offset values (R2 = 0.46). On the contrary, aerobic power performance can be explained using the acute:chronic workload, TM, and PHV values (R2 = 0.40). In conclusion, the biological maturity state of young soccer players has a substantial impact on their functional potential. Variations in accumulated load contribute significantly to aerobic resistance, whereas weight and height contribute significantly to sprint and vertical-jump performance, respectively.

Training for the HandbikeBattle: an explorative analysis of training load and handcycling physical capacity in recreationally active wheelchair users.

PURPOSE: (1) to analyze training characteristics of recreationally active wheelchair users during handcycle training, and (2) to examine the associations between training load and change in physical capacity. METHODS: Former rehabilitation patients (N = 60) with health conditions such as spinal cord injury or amputation were included. Participants trained for five months. A handcycling/arm crank graded exercise test was performed before and after the training period. Outcomes: peak power output per kg (POpeak/kg) and peak oxygen uptake per kg (VO2peak/kg). Training load was defined as Training Impulse (TRIMP), which is rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) multiplied by duration of the session, in arbitrary units (AU). Training intensity distribution (TID) was also determined (time in zone 1, RPE ≤4; zone 2, RPE 5-6; zone 3, RPE ≥7). RESULTS: Multilevel regression analyses showed that TRIMPsRPE was not significantly associated with change in physical capacity. Time in zone 2 (RPE 5-6) was significantly associated with ΔVO2peak, %ΔVO2peak, ΔVO2peak/kg and %ΔVO2peak/kg. CONCLUSION: Training at RPE 5-6 was the only determinant that was significantly associated with improvement in physical capacity. Additional controlled studies are necessary to demonstrate causality and gather more information about its usefulness, and optimal handcycle training regimes for recreationally active wheelchair users.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONMonitoring of handcycle training load is important to structure the training effort and intensity over time and to eventually optimize performance capacity. This is especially important for relatively untrained wheelchair users, who have a low physical capacity and a high risk of overuse injuries and shoulder pain.Training load can be easily calculated by multiplying the intensity of the training (RPE 0-10) with the duration of the training in minutes.Results on handcycle training at RPE 5-6 intensity in recreationally active wheelchair users suggests to be promising and should be further investigated with controlled studies.

Applications of methods of psychological support developed for astronauts for use in medical settings.

Over the past 40 years, psychological support (PS) for cosmonauts and astronauts has remained an important part of the regular biomedical provision of space crews during extended orbital flights. It includes well-developed principles and a set of methods that have proven its effectiveness for the maintenance of behavioral health under extreme conditions of space flight. The main principle of PS in flight is to restore the usual sensory input to compensate for the monotony and lack of external stimuli as a result of a long stay under isolation and confinement. Risk factors for the psychological health and well-being defined for the astronauts, such as sensory and social deprivation, monotony, confinement, and lack of privacy, also remain part and parcel of several civil professions. These include polar wintering, submarines, working on oil platforms, and ocean fishing. Most of these factors also adversely affect the recovery rate of a large contingent of medical institutions, especially bedridden patients with chronic diseases. Finally, due to the negative epidemiological situation associated with the spread of COVID-19, an increasingly wide range of citizens forced to be in self-isolation faces negative manifestations of the deprivation phenomena described previously. Several cases of successful use of PS under isolation, monotony, crowding, and confinement are presented. Thus, we assume that the use of psychological support methods developed for space flights could be extremely relevant in civil medicine and everyday life.

In-Season Quantification and Relationship of External and Internal Intensity, Sleep Quality, and Psychological or Physical Stressors of Semi-Professional Soccer Players.

The purpose of this study was two-fold: (a) to describe and analyse the relationship of the in-season variations of external and internal intensity metrics as well as well-being measures across different periods of a semi-professional soccer season (early-, mid- and end-season); and (b) to describe training monotony (TM) and training strain (TS) for 20 weeks in a semi-professional soccer season. Eighteen semi-professional players (age: 29 ± 4.1) from the Asian First League team participated in this study. The players were monitored for 20 consecutive weeks during in-season for external training intensity, internal training intensity and well-being parameters. The in-season was organized into three periods: early-season (weeks 1−7); mid-season (weeks 8−13); and end-season (weeks 14−20). Total distance (TD), high-speed running distance (HSRD), sprint distance, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), session-RPE (s-RPE), TM, TS, heart rate average and maximum, as well as sleep quality, stress and muscle soreness were collected. Results revealed that TD, HSRD and sprint distance (total values) were meaningfully greater during end-season than in the early-season. RPE showed a significantly highest value during the end-season (4.27 AU) than in early- (3.68 AU) and mid-season (3.65 AU), p < 0.01. TS showed significant differences between early-season with mid-season (p = 0.011) and end-season (p < 0.01), and the highest value occurred in week 17 during end-season (6656.51 AU), while the lowest value occurred in week 4 during early-season (797.17 AU). The average TD periods showed a moderate to large correlation with RPE, sleep and s-RPE at early-, mid- and end-season. Increasing the training intensity without considering the well-being of the players affects the performance of the team. Examining processes of the relationship between training intensity and other psychological indicators among players will probably be effective in training planning. Sports coaches and fitness professionals should be wary of changes in TM and TS that affect players performance. Therefore, to better control the training, more consideration should be given by the coaches.

Varied diets: implications for lamb performance, rumen characteristics, total antioxidant status, and welfare.

Intensive pastoral systems have moved away from diverse and varied diets towards overly simple monotonous diets. Feed choice through time is an obsolete way of providing forage to animals, as intensive management schemes generally allocate a single herbage or a dyad mixed sward. Monotonous feeding regimes impose nutritional repetition, which may impair animal performance and welfare. The objective of this experiment was to determine the impact of a diverse diet [DIV; free choice from perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) at all times], a varied diet [VAR; choice from ryegrass and plantain in the AM (0700-1600 h), and chicory and alfalfa in PM (1600-0700 h)], and a single forage diet of alfalfa [SFA; alfalfa at all times], on DMI, performance, and welfare of lambs. Six-month-old Coopworth ram lambs (n = 21) were offered their respective fresh-forage treatment (n = 7) diet indoors for 20 d. The DIV lambs consumed 1.64 ± 0.03 kg DM/d (mean ± SEm), which was 6% more (P < 0.05; 1.54 ± 0.03 kg DM/d) than the SFA and were not different (P > 0.05; 1.59 ± 0.03 kg DM/d) to the VAR lambs. Average daily gain (ADG) of DIV (296 g/d) and VAR (378 g/d) was 30% and 67% greater (P < 0.05) than that in the SFA lambs (227 g/d), respectively. The VAR lambs had 28% greater (P < 0.05) ADG than the DIV lambs. Differences among treatments were detected (P < 0.05) for the proportion of the day spent conducting the following behaviors: eating, ruminating, idling, lying, and standing. In addition, the number of bouts of stereotypic behaviors recorded from the SFA lambs (13.2 ± 2.2) was 150% greater (P < 0.05) than the DIV (5.1 ± 1.0) and VAR (5.5 ± 1.0) lambs. Our results suggest that the varied diet offered can improve animal performance and welfare compared to a monotonous SFA diet. Feeding management to provide a varied diet can improve performance relative to giving lambs free choice from taxonomically diverse forage options. Moreover, performance is affected by more than the primary chemical composition of the diet consumed, but how the diet is presented through time and the herbage species and quantities of each that are consumed to reach that chemical composition.

Functional diversity vs. monotony: the effect of a multiforage diet as opposed to a single forage diet on animal intake, performance, welfare, and urinary nitrogen excretion.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of offering animals a multiforage choice (MF) of fresh herbages on dry matter intake (DMI), live weight gain, and animal welfare, in comparison with a monotonous diet of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Twenty ram lambs (30.5 ± 0.9 kg initial live weight; mean ± SEM), were randomly allocated to either a diet consisting of diverse MF choice or a single forage ryegrass (SF) diet (n = 10 per treatment) for 35 d. Both diets were fed ad libitum; however, the MF diet was composed of set dry matter ratios of 24% chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), 30% lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), 25% plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.), and 21% ryegrass. The DMI of the MF lambs was 48% greater (P < 0.01) and the within animal day-to-day coefficient of variation (CV) of intake was 26% lower (P < 0.01) than the SF lambs. The average daily gain (ADG) of lambs offered the MF diet was 92% greater (P < 0.01) than the lambs offered the SF diet. The within-animal day-to-day CV of intake was negatively related to ADG (r = -0.59; P < 0.01). The MF lamb's urinary N concentration was 30% lower (P < 0.01) than that of the SF lambs. The SF lambs spent more time (P < 0.05) exhibiting stereotypic behaviors in the afternoon and spent more time observing other animals than the MF. Overall, allocating an MF choice of fresh herbages as opposed to a single forage diet of ryegrass increases DMI and thereby animal performance, while potentially reducing urinary N excretion.

Electrophysiological Brain-Cardiac Coupling in Train Drivers during Monotonous Driving.

Electrophysiological research has previously investigated monotony and the cardiac health of drivers independently; however, few studies have explored the association between the two. As such the present study aimed to examine the impact of monotonous train driving (indicated by electroencephalogram (EEG) activity) on an individual's cardiac health as measured by heart rate variability (HRV). Sixty-three train drivers participated in the present study, and were required to complete a monotonous train driver simulator task. During this task, a 32 lead EEG and a three-lead electrocardiogram were recorded from each participant. In the present analysis, the low (LF) and high frequency (HF) HRV parameters were associated with delta (p < 0.05), beta (p = 0.03) and gamma (p < 0.001) frequency EEG variables. Further, total HRV was associated with gamma activity, while sympathovagal balance (i.e., LF:HF ratio) was best associated fronto-temporal delta activity (p = 0.02). HRV and EEG parameters appear to be coupled, with the parameters of the delta and gamma EEG frequency bands potentially being the most important to this coupling. These relationships provide insight into the impact of a monotonous task on the cardiac health of train drivers, and may also be indicative of strategies employed to combat fatigue or engage with the driving task.

Intra-Season Variations in Workload Parameters in Europe's Elite Young Soccer Players: A Comparative Pilot Study between Starters and Non-Starters.

BACKGROUND: The main purpose of the current study was to compare the within-season variations of workload, training duration, acute/chronic workload ratio (ACWR), training monotony ™, and training strain (TS) through session rating perceived exertion (s-RPE) between starters and non-starters. METHODS: Seventeen under-17 European male soccer players (age, 16.2 ± 0.3 y, height, 1.8 ± 0.1 m; body mass, 66.5 ± 4.0 kg) divided in two groups: nine starters and eight non-starters, were evaluated over 50 weeks throughout the season. RESULTS: In general, there were load variations for all players during the full-season. RPE tended to decrease during in-season and RPE, training duration and s-RPE did not present significant differences between starters and non-starters. TM and TS presented lower values for starters in mesocycle (M) 4 and M11 compared to non-starters. TS presented lower values for starters in M4 and M11 compared to non-starters, while in M10 a higher value was found for starters when compared to non-starters. ACWR showed differences between starters and non-starters in two of the mesocycles. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that some mesocycles provided higher load for non-starters. This information can alert coaches that non-starter players are likely to try too hard in training to demonstrate their abilities, leading to non-functional overreaching, overtraining syndrome, and then poor performance.