Nitrate, nitrite and nitrosamines in the global food supply.

Inorganic nitrate provided by either nitrate salts or food supplements may improve cardiometabolic health. However, current methods to assess dietary nitrate, nitrite and nitrosamine consumption are inadequate. The purpose of this study was to develop a reference database to estimate the levels of nitrate, nitrite and nitrosamines in the global food supply.

Evidence that heat acclimation training may alter sleep and incidental activity.

This randomized cross-over study tested the hypothesis that heat acclimation training would detrimentally affect sleep variables and alter incidental physical activity compared to a thermoneutral training control condition. Eight recreationally trained males (V̇O 49±4.9 mLkgmin) completed two separate interventions separated by at least 31 days: 5 consecutive day training blocks of moderate-intensity cycling (60 min·day at 50% peak power output) in a hot (34.

Estimating nitrate intake in the Australian diet: Design and validation of a food frequency questionnaire.

Background: Dietary nitrates may play a role in mediating several key physiological processes impacting health and/or exercise performance. However, current methods for assessing dietary nitrate (NO ) consumption are inadequate. The present study aimed to examine the dietary nitrate intake in a sample of 50 healthy adults, as well as test the validity of a purposefully developed food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).

Evolving the validity of a mental toughness measure: Refined versions of the Mental Toughness Questionnaire-48.

The Mental Toughness Questionnaire-48 (MTQ48) is a 48-item self-report instrument to measure one's level of mental toughness. Despite its wide popularity in psychological studies, the questionnaire has been criticized due to its factorial validity. The present study aimed to re-assess the factorial validity of the instrument and propose alternative models to provide researchers with theoretically and practically useful instruments to measure mental toughness.

Machine Learning Models for Classifying Physical Activity in Free-Living Preschool Children.

Machine learning (ML) activity classification models trained on laboratory-based activity trials exhibit low accuracy under free-living conditions. Training new models on free-living accelerometer data, reducing the number of prediction windows comprised of multiple activity types by using shorter windows, including temporal features such as standard deviation in lag and lead windows, and using multiple sensors may improve the classification accuracy under free-living conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of Random Forest (RF) activity classification models for preschool-aged children trained on free-living accelerometer data.

Effectiveness of Tailored Dietary Counseling in Treating Malnourished Outpatients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Malnutrition in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is common and associated with poor prognosis. Nutrition interventions are necessary, but there is a lack of evidence regarding the effectiveness of tailored nutrition advice.

Objective: This study investigated whether tailored nutrition counseling could improve dietary intake, nutritional status, functional outcomes, and health-related quality of life (QoL) of malnourished outpatients with COPD.

Nutritional status, dietary intake, and health-related quality of life in outpatients with COPD.

Background: Malnutrition is common in patients with COPD; however, little is known about its impacts on health-related quality of life (QoL) among patients with COPD. This study aimed to explore the nutritional status and dietary intake among outpatients with COPD in Vietnam and its possible associations with QoL.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in COPD outpatients visiting the COPD management unit at the National Lung Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam between May 2017 and July 2017.

The impact of an m-Health financial incentives program on the physical activity and diet of Australian truck drivers.

Background: Chronic diseases are high in truck drivers and have been linked to work routines that promote inactivity and poor diets. This feasibility study examined the extent to which an m-Health financial incentives program facilitated physical activity and healthy dietary choices in Australian truck drivers.

Methods: Nineteen men (mean [SD] age = 47.

Which Women are Highly Active Over a 12-Year Period? A Prospective Analysis of Data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health.

Introduction: Current Australian physical activity (PA) guidelines encourage adults to accumulate 150-300 min of moderate to vigorous PA each week. Some critics assert that 300 min is unachievable.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to identify the proportion of younger and mid-aged women who met the 300-min recommendation over a 12-year period, examine how the "highly active" women achieved this level of activity (in terms of walking, moderate activity, and vigorous activity), and to identify the sociodemographic, biological, lifestyle, and work-related determinants of being "highly active".

Objectively Quantified Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Predicting Visceral Adiposity and Liver Fat.

. Epidemiologic studies suggest an inverse relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and self-reported physical activity levels. However, subjective measurements can be inaccurate and prone to reporter bias.

Estimating Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in a Free-Living Context: A Pragmatic Comparison of Consumer-Based Activity Trackers and ActiGraph Accelerometry.

Background: Activity trackers are increasingly popular with both consumers and researchers for monitoring activity and for promoting positive behavior change. However, there is a lack of research investigating the performance of these devices in free-living contexts, for which findings are likely to vary from studies conducted in well-controlled laboratory settings.

Objective: The aim was to compare Fitbit One and Jawbone UP estimates of steps, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sedentary behavior with data from the ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer in a free-living context.

The Effect of Dietary Nitrate Supplementation on Endurance Exercise Performance in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Recent research into the use of dietary nitrates and their role in vascular function has led to it becoming progressively more popular amongst athletes attempting to enhance performance.

Objective: The objective of this review was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to evaluate the effect of dietary nitrate (NO) supplementation on endurance exercise performance. An additional aim was to determine whether the performance outcomes are affected by potential moderator variables.

Safety, adherence and efficacy of exercise training in solid-organ transplant candidates: A systematic review.

Background: Patients awaiting solid-organ transplantation may be encouraged to undertake exercise training to improve pre- and post-transplant outcomes. However, the safety, adherence and efficacy of exercise training in this population remain unclear.

Methods: All randomized, non-randomized and non-controlled trials of exercise training interventions in solid-organ transplant candidates were included.

Field evaluation of a random forest activity classifier for wrist-worn accelerometer data.

Objectives: Wrist-worn accelerometers are convenient to wear and associated with greater wear-time compliance. Previous work has generally relied on choreographed activity trials to train and test classification models. However, validity in free-living contexts is starting to emerge.

Long-term Effects of Physical Activity Level on Changes in Healthy Body Mass Index Over 12 Years in Young Adult Women.

Objectives: To examine the effects of overall level and timing of physical activity (PA) on changes from a healthy body mass index (BMI) category over 12 years in young adult women.

Patients And Methods: Participants in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (younger cohort, born 1973-1978) completed surveys between 2000 (age 22-27 years) and 2012 (age 34-39 years). Physical activity was measured in 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2009 and was categorized as very low, low, active, or very active at each survey, and a cumulative PA score for this 9-year period was created.

Project Energise: Using participatory approaches and real time computer prompts to reduce occupational sitting and increase work time physical activity in office workers.

Objectives: This efficacy study assessed the added impact real time computer prompts had on a participatory approach to reduce occupational sedentary exposure and increase physical activity.

Design: Quasi-experimental.

Methods: 57 Australian office workers (mean [SD]; age=47 [11] years; BMI=28 [5]kg/m; 46 men) generated a menu of 20 occupational 'sit less and move more' strategies through participatory workshops, and were then tasked with implementing strategies for five months (July-November 2014).

Assessing the effectiveness of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) for smoking cessation in women: HIIT to quit study protocol.

Background: Smoking and physical inactivity are major risk factors for heart disease. Linking strategies that promote improvements in fitness and assist quitting smoking has potential to address both these risk factors simultaneously. The objective of this study is to compare the effects of two exercise interventions (high intensity interval training (HIIT) and lifestyle physical activity) on smoking cessation in female smokers.

Chronic disease risks and use of a smartphone application during a physical activity and dietary intervention in Australian truck drivers.

Objective: This study examined chronic disease risks and the use of a smartphone activity tracking application during an intervention in Australian truck drivers (April-October 2014).

Methods: Forty-four men (mean age=47.5 [SD 9.

Exercise and Vascular Function in Child Obesity: A Meta-Analysis.

Context: Conduit artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is a noninvasive index of preclinical atherosclerosis in humans. Exercise interventions can improve FMD in both healthy and clinical populations.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the effect of exercise training on FMD in overweight and obese children and adolescents as well as investigate the role of cardiorespiratory fitness (peak oxygen consumption [Vo2peak]) on effects observed.

Validity of a Self-Report Recall Tool for Estimating Sedentary Behavior in Adults.

Background: Sedentary behavior is continuing to emerge as an important target for health promotion. The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of a self-report use of time recall tool, the Multimedia Activity Recall for Children and Adults (MARCA) in estimating time spent sitting/lying, compared with a device-based measure.

Methods: Fifty-eight participants (48% female, [mean ± standard deviation] 28 ± 7.

The validity of the GENEActiv wrist-worn accelerometer for measuring adult sedentary time in free living.

Objectives: Based on self-reported measures, sedentary time has been associated with chronic disease and mortality. This study examined the validity of the wrist-worn GENEactiv accelerometer for measuring sedentary time (i.e.

Past-day recall of sedentary time: Validity of a self-reported measure of sedentary time in a university population.

Objectives: To assess the validity of the Past-day Adults' Sedentary Time-University (PAST-U) questionnaire, modified for a university population, compared with activPAL.

Design: Participants (n=57, age=18-55 years, 47% female, 65% students) were recruited from the University of Queensland (students and staff).

Methods: Participants answered the PAST-U questionnaire, which asked about time spent sitting or lying down for work, study, travel, television viewing, leisure-time computer use, reading, eating, socialising and other purposes, during the previous day.

Prospective Relationships Between Physical Activity and Optimism in Young and Mid-aged Women.

Background: There is growing evidence that regular physical activity (PA) reduces the risk of poor mental health. Less research has focused on the relationship between PA and positive wellbeing. The study aims were to assess the prospective associations between PA and optimism, in both young and mid-aged women.