Behavioural compensatory adjustments to exercise training in overweight women

<b>Purpose:</b> To examine extent to which changes in non-exercise physical activity contribute to individual differences in body fat loss induced by exercise programs. <b>Methods:</b> Thirty four overweight/obese sedentary women (age: 31.7 +/- 8.1 years, BMI: 29.3 +/- 4.3 kg m-2) exercised for 8 weeks. Body composition, total energy expenditure (TEE), exercise EE (ExEE), activity EE (AEE) calculated as energy expenditure of all active activities minus ExEE, sedentary EE (SEDEE), sleeping EE (SEE), and energy intake were determined before and during the last week of the exercise intervention. <b>Results:</b> Over the 8-week exercise program net ExEE was 30.2 +/- 12.6 MJ and based on this, body fat loss was predicted to be 0.8 +/- 0.2 kg. For the group as a whole, change in body fat (-0.0 +/- 0.2 kg) was not significant but individual body fat changes ranged from -3.2 kg to +2.6 kg. Eleven participants achieved equal or more than the predicted body fat loss and were classified as 'Responders' and 23 subjects achieved less than the predicted fat loss and were classified as 'Non-responders'. In the group as a whole, daily TEE was increased by 0.62 +/- 0.30 MJ (p<0.05) and the change tended to be different between groups (Responders, +1.44 +/- 0.49 MJ; Non-responders, +0.29 +/- 0.36 MJ, p=0.08). Changes in daily AEE of Responders and Non-responders differed significantly between groups (Responders, +0.79 +/- 0.50 MJ; Non-responders, -0.62 +/- 0.39 MJ, p<0.05). There were no differences between Responders and Non-responders for changes in SEDEE and SEE or energy intake. <b>Conclusion:</b> Overweight and obese women who during exercise intervention achieve lower than predicted fat loss are compensating by being less active outside exercise sessions

Non-Zero Sum Sport: Pickleball and the Theory of Coopetition

An ethnography of the sport of pickleball was conducted over a span of 7 months in the United States. Findings are partly the result of the author’s journey from playing in the park to playing in the Pros—presented in autoethnographic terms—and partly the result of 11 semi-structured interviews with 13 avid pickleball players. The main contention of this study is that sport is non-zero sum, despite a tendency for sport to be considered in zero sum terms. The non-zero sum aspect of sport is argued to be the result of two main causes: one, sport is coopetive, in that it is simultaneously competitive and cooperative; and two, players’ appraisals of their successes and failures are not strictly tied to wins and losses, but instead indicate a flexibility of potential rewards from competitions. The coopetive element of sport is particularly illuminated through the lens of agential realism. Findings also indicate that pickleball may be more coopetive and less zero sum than most sports

Internet-based applications in the agri-food supply chain:a survey on the Greek canning sector

In the agri-food industry, Internet-based applications changed the way companies conduct business mainly by facilitating activities that were already taking place, rather by giving birth to virtual networks creation. Due to the specific characteristics of the sector, Internet's huge potential has not been fully exploited yet, still remaining a new communication tool. This paper aims at giving empirical insights regarding the use of Internet-based applications in the agri-food supply chain, by focusing on the Greek fruit canning sector. In particular, the paper identifies companies' perceptions regarding perceived benefits, constrained factors and motivation factors towards the use of Internet-based applications. Results indicate that companies recognise benefits arising from the use of Internet, however they still use traditional ways when communicating with their partners. Regarding transportation issues, while companies' overall satisfaction is rather moderate and differs significantly from the importance placed on a number of criteria, companies are still sceptical in using Electronic Transportation Marketplace

Integrating supply chain operations in the Internet era

The internet's potential impact on supply chain operations is often approached in the literature in a quite generic way due to the complex nature of supply chains and the different levels of operations' integration. Drawing on existing research, this paper proposes an overall framework of supply chain integration and then attempts to provide a categorisation of the internet's role in the supply chain activities, providing insights from various sectors. The purpose of this paper is to describe and present the alternative ways that the internet impacts on the integration of supply chain operations, by comparing four different sectors: the automotive, the computer, the food and the grocery sector. The paper concludes that in the food, grocery and computer sector, internet's impact on supply chain operations has been quite poor, particularly forward integration, while it has been significant, in the backward integration of the automotive sector

Exploring the impact of e-business adoption on logistics processes:empirical evidence from the food industry

The objectives of the research were to identify factors that influence e-business adoption and its impact on logistics processes in the Greek food industry. Drawing on existing research, a conceptual framework and propositions were developed and six in depth case studies were carried out. In the framework, three major categories of influencing factors were distinguished: intra-enterprise, sector and supply chain factors. Findings suggest that e-business adoption is more affected by supply chain and sector factors, rather than intra-enterprise factors. Regarding the impact of e-business on logistics process, it seems that it is affected by the frequency of its use and it is greater in processes occurring at the company-customer interface. Finally, e-business impact is more related to the dimensions of time and quality, rather than cost improvements

Exploring chain, network and cluster collaborative practices:implications for SMEs

Collaboration among enterprises has been rendered as one of the most important issues in the business agenda, either as a result of the globalisation and deregulation of markets or as a result of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) revolution. Both factors have created a business reality where success in the collaboration practices followed, may result in improvements in the competitive position of enterprises. This paper starts from the basic business activity of the individual enterprise, looks into the chain, network and cluster collaborative practices and analyses their characteristics and the implications for Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs). In addition, it provides insights regarding the opportunities, benefits, requirements and risks related to each collaborative practice. This paper finally argues that different collaboration practices are required, as enterprises and the industrial sectors where they operate, present distinctive characteristics

Understanding the factors affecting e-business adoption and impact on logistics processes

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize e-business adoption and to generate understanding of the range of factors affecting the adoption process. The paper also aims at exploring the perceived impact of e-business adoption on logistics-related processes. Design/methodology/approach: Case study research, by conducting in-depth interviews in eight companies. Findings: E-business adoption is not exclusively a matter of resources. Increased e-business adoption and impact are caused by increased operational compatibility, as well as increased levels of collaboration. In terms of e-business impact this mainly refers to cycle time reductions and quality improvements, rather than direct cost reductions as reported by other authors. Research limitations/implications: The intrinsic weakness of the research method and the way concepts are operationalized limits the ability to generalize findings. Practical implications: Managers should emphasize developing their relationships with theirsuppliers/customers, in an effort to do common e-business investments, and should aim to increase their partners' commitment to the use of these applications. Originality/value: This paper provides empirical evidence from a sector where limited research efforts have taken place. Explanations can be helpful to other researchers involved in the understanding of the adoption of e-business and its impact

Behavioural compensatory and metabolic changes in response to exercise in overweight and obese women

This thesis describes the behavioural compensatory responses and metabolic changes in response to a single exercise session and training programmes in overweight and obese women and consists of a literature review (Chapter 1), a general methods chapter (Chapter 2), three experimental chapters (Chapter 3- Chapter 5) and a general discussion and conclusions chapter (Chapter 6). Experimental chapter 3 presents a study which aimed to investigate the impact of a single moderate-intensity cycling exercise session with energy expenditure of approximately 2 MJ on appetite measures, energy intake and metabolic variables in response to four ad libitum meals in overweight and obese females. Twelve sedentary, overweight and obese women underwent one exercise and one control trial each over two consecutive days. Appetite and metabolic variables such as glucose, insulin and triglycerides were measured frequently and four buffet meals were served throughout each trial. The findings suggest that a single exercise session performed by overweight and obese women does not elicit compensatory responses in appetite and energy intake and reduces triglyceride concentration by 17% in response to an ad libitum breakfast consumed 14 hours after exercise. Chapter 4 aimed to examine the extent to which changes in physical activity outside of the exercise intervention and energy intake contribute to individual differences in body fat loss induced by exercise training programmes. To determine this, thirty-four overweight and obese sedentary women participated in a structured and supervised 8-week exercise programme consisting of 150 minutes of cycling exercise per week. Body composition, total energy expenditure and components such as exercise, activity, sedentary and sleeping energy expenditure as well as energy intake from 7-day weighed intake were determined before and during the last week of the exercise intervention. The findings indicate that overweight and obese women who during exercise intervention achieve lower than predicted fat loss are compensating by being less active outside exercise sessions. The aim of Chapter 5 was to investigate how physical, fitness and metabolic characteristics of overweight and obese women are influenced by two 8-week supervised aerobic exercise programmes with exercise sessions conducted twice per week for the duration of 75 minutes and with exercise sessions conducted 5 times per week for the duration of 30 minutes. Thirty-four women were randomised into either long and less frequent or short and more frequent cycling exercise groups. Body composition, fitness and metabolic variables were measured prior and after the intervention. The findings indicate that frequency and duration of exercise sessions does not alter the effects of an exercise programme on health related outcomes which were evident in the absence of weight loss, when the total volume of exercise undertaken is the same. Based on obtained data the following conclusions have been drawn: Overweight and obese women do not compensate in terms of appetite and energy intake for the energy expended in a single exercise session, when this is in line with recommended expenditure for individual exercise sessions aimed at body weight and body fat reduction. Compensatory responses in terms of changes in energy intake are also not evident in overweight and obese women participating in an 8-week exercise training programme. However, predicted body fat loss can be expected to match the amount of fat actually lost only in those who do not decrease physical activity outside exercise sessions. A single exercise session with energy expenditure similar to that recommended for individual exercise sessions aiming at body mass and body fat reduction, reduced triglyceride concentration by 17% in response to an ad libitum breakfast consumed 14 hours after exercise. Changes in fitness, insulin resistance, diastolic blood pressure and waist circumference in sedentary overweight and obese women induced by an 8-week exercise programme incorporating 150 minutes of exercise per week are independent of frequency and duration of exercise sessions with 2 x 75 minute exercise sessions per week and 5 x 30 minute exercise sessions per week eliciting similar changes