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The effects of isotonic beetroot supplementation on high-intensity exercise performance
No full textVarious nutritional supplements are marketed to recreational exercisers and athletes, but few have good evidence to support claims associated with performance improvements. Beetroot juice is recognised for its potential benefits as it contains high levels of dietary nitrate, polyphenols, and ascorbic acid. Studies have shown that dietary nitrate may enhance exercise performance by increasing oxygen and substrate delivery to working skeletal muscles. However, limited research has focused on the impact of nitrate supplementation on high-intensity exercise. Nitrate ingestion may be important, as it is postulated that the conversion of nitrate to nitric oxide is accelerated under conditions of hypoxia and low pH, which typify conditions associated with this type of exercise. Another consideration is whether nitrate conversion and performance with beetroot juice can be improved. Isotonic drinks contain ascorbic acid and can increase the salivary flow rate. The provision of nitrate in an isotonic beetroot juice drink may therefore aid exercise performance. Thus, the overall objective of this thesis was to systematically evaluate the effects of an isotonic beetroot juice drink (ISO-BR) on high-intensity exercise performance. Three double-blind, randomised, and cross-over studies were conducted to meet this objective.Study 1 compared how the provision of an ISO-BR with a non-isotonic beetroot juice drink (BR) affected jump performance, a single isolated 30-s maximal cycling sprint and the salivary and plasma nitrate/nitrite responses. Twenty-three physically active participants (mean ± standard deviation (SD); age: 26 ±4 years; body mass index (BMI): 22.4 ± 1.9 kg/m2) consumed 570 ml (nitrate 12.9 mmol) of either BR or ISO-BR before performing jump tests and an isolated sprint on a cycle ergometer. Results showed that ISO-BR significantly elevated salivary NOx (NO analytes) but not plasma NOx compared with BR. ISO-BR improved peak power output compared with BR by 3.9% (ISO-BR: 11.4 ± 2.5 W/kg vs. BR: 11.0 ± 2.3 W/kg; p = 0.04; d = 0.46). There were no significant differences in time to peak power or mean power output during cycling or on the jump tests between trials. An ISO-BR drink may have benefits on peak power during sprint cycling, but not jump performance, over a BR drink potentially through increases in NOx.Study 2 determined whether ISO-BR could improve high-intensity cycling time-trial performance and muscle oxygenation in active individuals. Twenty-four physically active participants (mean ± SD; age 28 ± 5 years, BMI 22.6 ± 2.0 kg/m2) consumed an isotonic sports drink (ISO-C, 570 ml, nitrate 0 mmol) or ISO-BR (570 ml, nitrate 12.9 mmol) before performing a preloaded exercise, followed by a 10 km cycling time-trial on a cycle ergometer. Muscle oxygenation was measured during cycling using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). The ISO-BR significantly improved time-trial performance compared to ISO-C by 6.4% (ISO-BR: 1068.4 ± 333.3 s vs. ISO-C: 1141.0 ± 381.8 s; p Study 3 investigated how 5-day supplementation of ISO-BR affected muscle oxygenation and sprint interval exercise (SIE) performance in 20 physically active participants (mean ± SD; age 28 ± 6 years, BMI 22.6 ± 2.0 kg/m2). Participants consumed either ISO-BR or ISO-C before performing SIE (six 10-s maximal effort, interspersed with 50-s active recovery) on a cycle ergometer. ISO-BR significantly improved the time to peak power (main effect of drink, p = 0.003, partial η2 = 0.04) and muscle deoxygenation (ΔHHb) (main effect of drink, p = 0.002, partial η2 = 0.021) compared to ISO-C. ISO-BR supplementation did not improve peak and mean power output in the SIE protocol compared with an isotonic drink alone. However, the time to peak was significantly reduced by 25% after ISO-BR supplementation compared to ISO-C.The studies in this thesis provide valuable insights into the potential benefits of using an isotonic beetroot juice drink as a pre-exercise drink for high-intensity exercise performance. Specifically, there were benefits to single sprint performance using isotonic beetroot juice over a non-isotonic beetroot juice drink. When compared with an isotonic carbohydrate drink, there were benefits of isotonic beetroot juice on short, high-intensity cycling time-trial performance and time to peak power during sprint interval exercise, which may be associated with the changes in muscle oxygenation observed. Collectively, these findings suggest a positive performance impact of ISO-BR on high-intensity exercise and have practical implications for athletes and sports professionals in relevant sports modalities
A pilot study of perceptions of bilingual linguistic landscape in primary school Mother Tongue language acquisition via VR Technology: A case study in Singapore
No full textSecond language listening processes and pedagogy: Implications for teaching young learners
No full textEffective listening is an essential skill for second language (L2) learners. However, the teaching of listening is challenging, as it is a receptive skill that cannot be easily observed or controlled by the teacher. Active listeners use skills and strategies to process input, direct their attention, and manage their listening processes to interact in various contexts, often in real time. While there is now a growing understanding amongst teachers of what L2 listening entails, the application of this knowledge to the teaching of listening, particularly to young learners, is still rather limited. This chapter aims to address this area of need by including insights into young learners’ listening development in a discussion of theoretical perspectives about L2 listening. The chapter begins by describing core listening skills, especially cognitive processes needed for listening comprehension alongside a description of the role of metacognition in support of L2 listening development. These theoretical underpinnings then form the basis for a discussion of pedagogical applications that incorporate two types of listening activities as well as strategy instruction and metacognitive processes within listening-based lessons. Pedagogical ideas for teaching young learners are then highlighted. The chapter concludes by reiterating that language learners of all ages can develop skills and strategies and, at the same time, acquire knowledge about the critical role that these processes play in improving their own comprehension
Mas Gift Agreement Event 2025 (5 Aug 2025)
No full textDr MAS' wife and daughter, Mdm Shahrulbariah and Ms Salmah Sng Mei Wen, interacting with Guest-of-Honour, Prof Chua Bee Leng
A study of the relationship between the political and physical dimensions of schoolscapes in Sabah, Malaysia
No full textSchoolscapes are closely aligned with language policy, yet the existing literature lacks comprehensive insights into Malaysia's diverse school environments. The study examines the interplay between the political and physical dimensions across various schools in Sandakan. Using a mixed-method approach, it analyses 11,035 photos and conducts semi-structured interviews with school principals. Malay, English, and Mandarin emerge as predominant languages across primary and secondary levels, showing variations among school types. The study demonstrates that schoolscapes function as both products of language policies and negotiating agents across different levels of language policies – national, regional, and local. While the strength of national and local policy implementation directly shapes the visibility of languages, the physical dimension also provides space for negotiation, serving as a platform where schools negotiate and reinterpret language ideologies linked to ethnic minorities, religions, and historical legacies. In doing so, this study significantly advances understanding of language dynamics within Malaysian educational spaces.Accepted versio
Discovery and development of potential therapeutic agents from sponge-derived marine natural products in Thailand
No full textThailand, located in Southeast Asia, boasts a rich marine biodiversity characterized by its extensive coastline and unique marine ecosystems. The country’s marine resources, particularly its diverse sponge species, have drawn considerable interest in natural product research due to their potential in pharmaceutical applications. This chapter focuses on sponge-derived marine natural products (MNPs) identified in Thailand, highlighting their chemical diversity and biological activities. The discussion spans terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids and other bioactive compounds, showcasing their roles in combating infections, cancers and other diseases. Research conducted since 1988 has yielded numerous bioactive compounds from Thai sponges, many of which exhibit potent anti-infective, cytotoxic or antimalarial activities. Significant efforts have been directed towards understanding the chemistry and biosynthesis of these metabolites, including semi-synthetic derivatives, to enhance their therapeutic potential. This comprehensive review not only underscores the pharmaceutical promise of Thai marine sponges but also emphasizes the collaborative contributions of Thai and international research teams in the advancement of marine natural products. The findings presented here pave the way for future drug discovery efforts while advocating for the conservation of Thailand’s unique marine ecosystems
Employing gamification mechanisms in primary school classrooms: A case study of a Chinese language teacher
No full textDespite the increasing number of teacher game literacy studies, few focus on the micro-level approach of game-based learning, which is based on game mechanics employed in the classroom setting. Moreover, the focus of existing studies is generally mounted on teachers’ gaming beliefs or experiences. Studies scarcely perform a comprehensive investigation on the use of gamification in language classrooms through the lens of teacher’s knowledge, goals and beliefs. Therefore, this case study investigates how a Chinese language teacher enacted game-based learning in her primary 2 classroom using a mobile app that supports seamless learning, together with a Learning Analytics Dashboard. Content analysis and narrative analysis were conducted to examine the reasons why and how the game mechanics were employed together with the Dashboard. The study seeks to deepen our understanding of game-based strategies in the context of teaching Chinese as a second language for young learners and aims to provide insights into teachers’ professional development on using gamified applications