Background Regular physical activity elicits many health benefits. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms through which physical activity influences overall health are less understood. Untargeted metabolomics enables system-wide mapping of molecular perturbations which may lend insights into physiological responses to regular physical activity. In this study, we investigated the associations of habitual physical activity with plasma and urine metabolome in adolescents and young adults. Methods This cross-sectional study included participants from the DONALD (DOrtmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed) study with plasma samples n = 365 (median age: 18.4 (18.1, 25.0) years, 58% females) and 24 h urine samples n = 215 (median age: 18.1 (17.1, 18.2) years, 51% females). Habitual physical activity was assessed using a validated Adolescent Physical Activity Recall Questionnaire. Plasma and urine metabolite concentrations were determined using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (UPLC-MS/MS) methods. In a sex-stratified analysis, we conducted principal component analysis (PCA) to reduce the dimensionality of metabolite data and to create metabolite patterns. Multivariable linear regression models were then applied to assess the associations between self-reported physical activity (metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-hours per week) with single metabolites and metabolite patterns, adjusted for potential confounders and controlling the false discovery rate (FDR) at 5% for each set of regressions. Results Habitual physical activity was positively associated with the “lipid, amino acids and xenometabolite” pattern in the plasma samples of male participants only (β = 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.04, p = 0.001, adjusted p = 0.042). In both sexes, no association of physical activity with single metabolites in plasma and urine and metabolite patterns in urine was found (all adjusted p > 0.05). Conclusions Our explorative study suggests that habitual physical activity is associated with alterations of a group of metabolites reflected in the plasma metabolite pattern in males. These perturbations may lend insights into some of underlying mechanisms that modulate effects of physical activity.

This article aims to analyze the moderating effect of supply chain configuration on the relationship between dynamic supply chain capabilities and resilience in the retail sector in Kenya. We used an ex-post facto research design. The study used a stratified random sampling technique to select a sample size of 324 respondents from a population of 3200 employees working in retail chains in Nairobi City County. Further, the study used questionnaires as primary data collection instruments. Data analysis was done using both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The study rejected the null hypothesis that supply chain configuration does not moderate the relationship between dynamic supply chain capabilities and resilience in the retail sector. From the analysed data, the moderating effect of SCC had a reducing impact on the relationship between dynamic SC capabilities and resilience in the retail industry. In this regard, the study makes some substantive recommendations; that retail chains should re-evaluate their suppliers upstream and engage in objective supplier base reduction and rationalization to reconfigure their retail chains.

The retail sector is susceptible to unprecedented disruptions occasioned by unending sector specific turmoil and disruptions Succinctly, retail chains are not sufficiently resilient to adjust ex-ante and ex-post to disruptions The nature of retail chains; short product life cycle, razor thin profit margins and stiff competition has permeated and precipitated non-resilience to either resist, adjust or recover from both ex-post and ex-ante disruptions by the sector players pushing some firms to insolvency and liquidation However, in what is a juxtaposition of the retail chains, some sector specific players are ambidextrous to defy all turmoil and exhibit impeccable resilience This phenomenon augments the research problem that the researchers sought to explore the nexus between dynamic retail agility capability and resilience in the retail sector using Structural Equation Modelling. From the findings, the study rejected H01: There is no statistically significant relationship between SC agility capability and resilience in the Retail Sector. Conclusively, he results of this study postulate and advance the knowledge of dynamic SC Agility practices and resilience in the retail sector. It provides sufficient evidence of the facts contended herein and the nexuses thereto. Notably, the structural model was a good fit.