The common ACTN3 R577X polymorphism leads to α-actinin-3 deficiency in ~20% of the human population and may be detrimental to their muscle power. However, the impact of ACTN3R577X on metabolic health and exercise capacity in the general population remains unclear. The objective of the current study was to compare metabolic health markers, musculoskeletal traits, and cardiorespiratory capacity between untrained overweight α-actinin-3-deficient (XX; 20 men and 19 women) and α-actinin-3 expressing (RR; 20 men and 21 women) individuals. The participants were aged 43 ± 7 years and had a BMI of 28.6 ± 3.2 kg·m-2. Various metabolic health and exercise capacity aspects encompassing segmental body composition, bone density, systemic low-grade inflammation, blood lipid profile, whole-body glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, resting and exercise metabolism, and exercise capacity were evaluated. While XX groups had lower fat-free mass than RR groups, other anthropometrical and body composition features, including bone mineral content, did not differ between the genotype groups in either women or men. We found no significant differences between XX and RR individuals for blood lipid profile, markers of systemic inflammation, glucose tolerance, resting metabolism, and leg strength. Moreover, no clear genotype-related differences were observed in markers of insulin resistance and sensitivity, although XX women exhibited a slightly smaller increase in insulin concentration than RR women during an oral glucose tolerance test. An incremental cardiopulmonary cycling test revealed no differences in metabolic and heart rate responses, maximal fat oxidation, or exercise capacity. In conclusion, we observed no associations between α-actinin-3 deficiency and metabolic health, body composition, muscle function, or cardiorespiratory capacity in untrained overweight men and women.

Endoscopic evacuation vs. stereotactic aspiration for the treatment of supratentorial intracerebral hematoma: A comparative study.

Joint and independent associations of muscle and bone health with biological age acceleration in Chinese adults: Findings from the China National Health Survey.

Sarcopenia increases the odds of frailty in older hospitalized diabetic patients.

High-speed vs. low-speed resistance training on muscle function in individuals with low muscle mass and obesity.

Polygenic risk score for lower limb skeletal muscle mass and its interaction with protein and vitamin D intake in older adults.

Clinicians may estimate the glomerular filtration rate using serum creatinine (eGFRcr) or cystatin C (eGFRcys). But the difference between these estimates (eGFRdiff) is often large. In addition to presenting a clinical conundrum, eGFRdiff is associated with adverse outcomes. Often, these associations have been attributed to low muscle mass, wherein creatinine production is low, artificially increasing eGFRcr above eGFRcys. Less prominent theories propose the adverse associations may be due to artificial depression of eGFRcys when cystatin C production is increased by obesity or inflammation or when cystatin C clearance is decreased relative to creatinine clearance (shrunken pore syndrome). Recent analyses have revealed our understanding of the determinants and consequences of eGFRdiff remains poor. Models incorporating iothalamate GFR measurements and objective measures of muscle mass, obesity, inflammation, shrunken pore syndrome, have explained only a minority of the variation in eGFRdiff among individuals. Moreover, adjustment for these factors does not extinguish the associations with outcomes. The pathophysiology underlying the associations between eGFRdiff and adverse outcomes remains poorly understood. Until our understanding improves to allow prediction of whether eGFRcr or eGFRcys is likely to be more accurate in a particular patient, the combined equation estimate should be favored.

Maintaining adequate energy availability is a key concern for many cyclists, many of whom must balance the need to support their very high training and competition energy expenditure while simultaneously adopting nutritional strategies that will allow them to maintain the body mass deemed most conducive to optimal performance. Available evidence indicates that cyclists tend to be a weight-conscious group that frequently reports engaging in restrictive eating behaviors. Together, the dual demands of supporting the energetic cost of their training alongside restricting energy intake to maintain a low body mass may place some riders at a high risk of experiencing negative health- and performance-related consequences associated with prolonged and problematically low energy availability. Within this review, we critically discuss issues related to the role of body mass and composition in cycling performance along with cyclists' reported perceptions on this issue. We also describe evidence on reported energy expenditure and intake in high-level cyclists, recognizing the challenges of accurate assessment of these parameters, particularly within the field setting. Evidence related to signs and signals of problematic low energy availability in cyclists is described, also recognizing the complexity of determining causality for longer term low energy availability consequences alongside identifying other potential contributory factors to the symptomatology reported for this population. Finally, we make pragmatic recommendations to support cyclists to meet their physique goals while simultaneously emphasizing and supporting longer term health, performance, and well-being.

• A moving-bed thermochemical energy storage system is experimentally investigated. • Pumice-based salt-in-matrix composite sorbents are developed and implemented. • The system achieves an energy storage density of 189.7 kWh/m 3 . • Maximum effective energy and exergy efficiencies are 52.7% and 6.8%, respectively. • A correlation between air humidity difference and temperature lift is established. In the last decade, low-grade thermochemical energy storage systems have been gaining interest due to their long-term heat storage potential and high energy storage density. Despite the advantageous aspects of this heat storage method, previously investigated fixed-bed reactors suffer from low heat and mass transfer performance and offer limited process control. In order to overcome these challenges, a new multi-layer moving bed reactor was designed, manufactured, and tested in this study. The proposed reactor consists of reaction and storage sections where eight independent sorption beds have freedom of movement between the two sections. Such a design enables a modular concept, where each sorption bed could be charged or discharged individually, while the remaining sorption beds are stored inside their own hermetically insulated chambers. In the system, two different sizes of pumice stones, namely PM1 and PM2, were used as the host matrix, and three different thermochemical materials were synthesized by impregnation of the LiCl-CaCl 2 mixture and CaCl 2 as salts into pumice. During the experiments, comparative analyses of different materials, short-cycle full-system analyses, long-cycle energy density analyses, and multi-bed performance analyses have been performed. Additionally, the impact of air velocity was investigated. The evaluations were performed based on the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics. Study results demonstrated that each sorption bed provides an average heat output between 0.58 and 1.07 kW depending on the inlet air conditions and the composition of thermochemical material. According to the study results, the energy storage density of the system was obtained as 189.7 kWh/m 3 with the use of PM2-CaCl 2 . On the other hand, 4.2 m/s was found as the most optimal air velocity, proving the highest average heat output during the discharging process and the highest moisture desorption rate per unit of heat consumed during the charging process. A linear correlation between the air absolute humidity difference and the air temperature lift for the discharging process was also obtained, which could provide useful insights for the performance prediction of thermochemical energy storage systems.

Stroke Risk After TAVR: Balloon-Expandable vs Self-Expanding Valves in Community Practice.

Childhood obesity is a global public health threat. Breastfeeding is associated with a protective effect on childhood overweight. Since breastfeeding is not always possible, infant formula (IF) should provide nutritional and functional properties as close as possible to human milk. We investigated body composition trajectories during the first 2 years of life of infants receiving until age 6 months Concept IF, containing large, phospholipid-coated lipid droplets enriched with dairy lipids, more closely mimicking human milk fat globule characteristics, in comparison with a conventional IF (Control) and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). In a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial, healthy term-born infants were assigned to receive Concept IF (n = 62) or Control IF (n = 64) until age 6 months. Infants receiving EBF for ≥6 months served as reference (n = 123). Body composition was measured by Air Displacement Plethysmography (ADP) until 6 months and by Dual-energy X-ray (DXA) from age 6 to 24 months. Ultrasonography measured abdominal subcutaneous and visceral fat thickness. Mixed models were used to evaluate body composition during the first 2 years of life, with fat mass index standard deviation score (SDS) from age 6-12 months as primary outcome. No differences were found between the Concept and Control group for fat mass index SDS and all other body composition trajectories. In comparison with the EBF group, both IF groups had more; visceral fat and a higher fat-free mass index SDS during the first 2 years of life and a lower fat mass percentage SDS and length SDS up to age 6 months. Concept IF was well-tolerated and had similar safety as Control IF based on adverse event outcomes. Body composition trajectories of infants receiving a Concept IF, containing large, milk phospholipid-coated lipid droplets enriched with dairy lipids, until the age of 6 months, were not; different from infants receiving Control IF during the first 2 years of life. As the first 6 months of life are; a critical window for adiposity programming which may only become evident later in life, more research is required to investigate potential long-term effects. not registered.

Diagnostic Performance of Serum Adiponectin and a Biomarker-Based Model for Sarcopenia in Compensated Cirrhosis.

Noble gas diffusion in tuff: Effects of temperature and pressure investigated with a modified time-lag method.

Multicomponent programs combining therapeutic exercise, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and pain neuroscience education demonstrate overall efficacy for fibromyalgia (FM). However, a substantial proportion of patients do not achieve clinically meaningful improvement. This study aimed to identify predictors of nonresponse and to develop a prognostic classifier model. Participants (n=788) from multiple randomized controlled trials received a standardized 12-week multicomponent intervention. This secondary analysis defined nonresponse as a <20% reduction in Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire Revised (FIQR) scores. A machine learning approach called least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regularization was used to train a classifier. Model performance was assessed by external validation in a holdout sample, with the area under the curve (AUC) and mean squared error as evaluation indices. Higher baseline anxiety (B=0.010), depression (B=0.007), kinesiophobia (B=0.005), and FM severity (B=-0.004), along with lower physical function (B=-0.014), younger age (B=-0.005), and lower body mass index (B=-0.010), were associated with nonresponse. The model demonstrated adequate classification accuracy out-of-sample (AUC=0.657; 95% CI: 0.586-0.728). A prototype calculator incorporating these predictors was developed. Psychological, functional, and demographic factors were linked to nonresponse to multicomponent treatment in FM. Although predictive accuracy was limited, these findings support further validation of stratification approaches to inform treatment planning.

Small modular reactors (SMRs): Comparison of saturated versus superheated steam Rankine cycle under equal thermodynamic constraints

Understanding the oxidation behaviour of Co-based superalloys is crucial for the deployment of such alloys in high-temperature structural applications. This study explores the oxidation behaviour of four cast Co-based superalloys with varying C (0.25 or 0.5 wt%) and Si (1 or 4 wt%) contents at 800°C, 1000°C, and 1200°C for up to 100 h. Alloys with higher Si content generally exhibited lower isothermal mass gains than the low-Si variants, although the benefit depended on temperature and was accompanied by differences in the scale loss during cooling. At 800°C, an oxidation-associated Laves phase formed within surface-breaking interdendritic oxidation channels in the high-Si alloys (associated with M 12 C), consistent with reduced short-circuit transport along these pathways and the lower measured rates of isothermal mass gain. At 1000°C, Laves formation persisted but occurred as coarser particles and did not produce a measurable separation in mass gain. Notably, the high-Si alloys exhibited increased oxide spallation during cooling from this temperature. At 1200°C, the high-Si alloys developed a more continuous silica subscale at the alloy-oxide interface, consistent with a modest reduction in isothermal mass gain relative to the low-Si alloys. For alloys with equivalent Si content, reduced C improved mass-gain behaviour at 800°C and 1200°C, consistent with a reduced extent of interdendritic network (greater interdendritic spacing), whereas at 1000°C all alloys exhibited broadly similar mass gains. These findings demonstrate that Si and C influence oxidation through coupled effects on scale constitution, microstructurally controlled transport and oxide-scale integrity, providing guidance for the design of next-generation high-temperature alloys. • 4 wt% Si alloys showed superior oxidation resistance to 1 wt% Si counterparts • Oxidation at 800°C formed Laves phase; oxidation at 1200°C gave a silica sub-scale • Quantified oxide scale thickness at 800°C supports the proposed mechanism • 4 wt% Si alloys showed shallower oxidised channel depths at all test temperatures

Sarcopenia predicts hospitalization and 30-day mortality in older adults presenting to the emergency department.

While moderate and late preterm infants (MLPTI, gestational age 32 0/7-36 6/7 weeks) represent the largest group of preterm infants worldwide, studies on nutritional needs remain scarce. This review evaluated the latest evidence on nutritional strategies for MLPTI and their effect on growth and body composition. For the first time, specific recommended nutritional intakes were defined by a group of experts, resulting in a recommended protein intake of 3.1-3.5 g/kg/day and a recommended energy intake of 127-130 kcal/kg/day. However, most MLPTI fail to meet these targets in the first week of life. Higher early protein and energy intakes were associated with improved weight gain, head growth, and reduced extra-uterine growth restriction in the first months of life, but data beyond those first months were limited. Feeding type also influenced outcomes: infants who were exclusively fed mother's milk showed lower fat mass and higher lean mass compared to those receiving formula. Nutrition in MLPTI is critical for early growth and body composition. Breastfeeding support and adequate early protein and energy intake appear beneficial for early growth. Further longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the lasting impact of early nutrition on growth and body composition in MLPTI.

Guselkumab, a selective interleukin (IL)-23 inhibitor, is approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. While randomized clinical trials have introduced the concept of "super-responders" (SRe)-patients achieving complete skin clearance (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index [PASI] 100) at defined early timepoints-real-world evidence on their characteristics and long-term outcomes remains limited. This study aimed to identify baseline predictors of super-response (PASI 100 at Weeks 16 and 24) and to evaluate long-term effectiveness, safety, and drug survival over a 5-year period in a routine clinical setting. This retrospective multicenter study analyzed 435 patients from the Czech BIOREP registry treated with guselkumab. Predictors of super-response were identified using multivariable logistic regression. PASI outcomes and drug survival were assessed with descriptive statistics and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Among the cohort, 130 patients (29.9%) were classified as super-responders. Lower body mass index (BMI) and absence of prior biologic therapy were independent predictors of SRe status (odds ratio [OR] = 0.94 and 0.73, respectively). While PASI 75/90/100 rates were significantly higher in SRe throughout follow-up, drug survival was comparable between SRe and non-SRe. At 60 months, PASI 100 was maintained in 79.2% of SRe versus 35.4% of non-SRe. Obesity and female sex were associated with lower long-term treatment persistence. Super-response to guselkumab is linked to distinct baseline features. Despite differences in PASI outcomes, treatment persistence was similar across groups. These findings underscore the value of early identification of super-responders and support personalized treatment strategies in clinical practice.

Experimental and machine learning-based analysis of encapsulated lauric acid in geopolymer composites for thermal energy storage