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Sarcopenia is characterized by a decline in muscle strength, generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass, and impaired physical performance, which are common outcomes used to screen, diagnose, and determine severity of sarcopenia in older adults. These outcomes are associated with poor quality of life, increased risk of falls, hospitalization, and mortality in this population. The development of sarcopenia is underpinned by aging, but other factors can lead to sarcopenia, such as chronic diseases, physical inactivity, inadequate dietary energy intake, and reduced protein intake (nutrition‐related sarcopenia), leading to an imbalance between muscle protein synthesis and muscle protein breakdown. Protein digestion and absorption are also modified with age, as well as the reduced capacity of metabolizing protein, hindering older adults from achieving ideal protein consumption (i.e., 1–1.5 g/kg/day). Nutritional supplement strategies, like animal (i.e., whey protein) and plant‐based protein, leucine, and creatine have been shown to play a significant role in improving outcomes related to sarcopenia. However, the impact of other supplements (e.g., branched‐chain amino acids, isolated amino acids, and omega‐3) on sarcopenia and related outcomes remain unclear. This narrative review will discuss the evidence of the impact of these nutritional strategies on sarcopenia outcomes in older adults. Nutritional supplements to enhance muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and improve sarcopenia outcomes in older adults.

We present a combination of µLaue X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) techniques to map local strain, orientation, and light emission in metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) core–shell InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells (MQW) wires dispersed on silicon substrates. The components of the deviatoric strain tensor averaged along the beam footprint were quantified with a measurement precision better than 9 × 10−5 and an accuracy of approximately 4 × 10−4. This measurement quality is achieved by carefully calibrating the analysis chain with a Ge crystal and verifying it with measurements of the unstrained Si substrate reference. The µLaue mapping of the components of the deviatoric strain confirms the high crystal quality and the impact of the MQW shell grown only in the upper part of the GaN core, as evidenced by the local variations of the full width at half maximum of the diffraction peaks and of the lattice rotation tensor. The two deviatoric tensors of the GaN core and InGaN/GaN shell can be measured independently and are in quantitative agreement with 3D finite element method (FEM) simulations. The structural information is correlated with XEOL measurements, whose spectral analysis reveals the main contributions to light emission: the major UV‐blue MQW emission from the m‐plane at the top of the wires, with a gradient varying from 406 nm at the top of the MQW to 397 nm at the bottom, with a secondary emission of a semipolar r‐plane facet at ∼470 nm; the near‐band‐edge GaN signal at ∼363 nm; and the usual yellow defect‐band luminescence, centered at 560 nm. The paper also highlights the potential of these techniques to obtain statistics on semiconductor heterostructures and their automation capabilities for measurements and analysis. Micro‐Laue diffraction and excited optical X‐ray luminescence are used to study InGaN/GaN core‐shell wires on the BM32 beamline at the European Synchrotron. Multimodal imaging of X‐ray fluorescence, deviatoric strain tensors and optical emissions is performed using simultaneous mapping. Finite element calculations confirm the deviatoric strain tensors of the core and shell, as determined by experimentation.

Purpose Central and peripheral chemoreceptors are hypersensitized in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Whether this autonomic alteration occurs in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains little known. We test the hypothesis that the central and peripheral chemoreflex control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) is altered in HFpEF. Methods Patients aged 55–80 years with symptoms of heart failure, body mass index ≤ 35 kg/m 2 , left ventricular ejection fraction > 50%, left atrial volume index > 34 mL/m 2 , left ventricular early diastolic filling velocity and early diastolic tissue velocity of mitral annulus ratio (E/e′ index) ≥ 13, and BNP levels > 35 pg/mL were included in the study (HFpEF, n  = 9). Patients without heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (non-HFpEF, n  = 9), aged-paired, were also included in the study. Peripheral chemoreceptors stimulation (10% O 2 and 90% N 2 , with CO 2 titrated) and central chemoreceptors stimulation (7% CO 2 and 93% O 2 ) were conducted for 3 min. MSNA was evaluated by microneurography technique, and forearm blood flow (FBF) by venous occlusion plethysmography. Results During hypoxia, MSNA responses were greater ( p  < 0.001) and FBF responses were lower in patients with HFpEF ( p  = 0.006). Likewise, MSNA responses during hypercapnia were higher ( p  < 0.001) and forearm vascular conductance (FVC) levels were lower ( p  = 0.030) in patients with HFpEF. Conclusions Peripheral and central chemoreflex controls of MSNA are hypersensitized in patients with HFpEF, which seems to contribute to the increase in MSNA in these patients. In addition, peripheral and central chemoreceptors stimulation in patients with HFpEF causes muscle vasoconstriction.

We present a combination of µLaue X-ray diffraction and X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) techniques to map local strain, orientation, and light emission in metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) core-shell InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells (MQW) wires dispersed on silicon substrates. The components of the deviatoric strain tensor averaged along the beam footprint were quantified with a measurement precision better than 9 × 10⁻⁵ and an accuracy of approximately 4 × 10⁻⁴. This measurement quality is achieved by carefully calibrating the analysis chain with a Ge crystal and verifying it with measurements of the unstrained Si substrate reference. The µLaue mapping of the components of the deviatoric strain confirms the high crystal quality and the impact of the MQW shell grown only in the upper part of the GaN core, as evidenced by the local variations of the full width at half maximum of the diffraction peaks and of the lattice rotation tensor. The two deviatoric tensors of the GaN core and InGaN/GaN shell can be measured independently and are in quantitative agreement with three-dimensional finite element method (FEM) simulations. The structural information is correlated with XEOL measurements, whose spectral analysis reveals the main contributions to light emission: the major blue MQW emission from the m-plane at the top of the wires, with a gradient varying from 406 nm at the top of the MQW to 397 nm at the bottom, with a secondary emission of a semipolar r-plane facet at 470 nm; the nearband-edge GaN signal at 363 nm; and the usual yellow defect-band luminescence, centered at 560 nm. The paper also highlights the potential of these techniques to obtain statistics on semiconductor heterostructures and their automation capabilities for measurements and analysis.

COVID-19 survivors often experience late symptoms, possibly secondary to an exacerbated inflammatory response. This study aimed to investigate whether inflammatory levels, assessed by the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) during hospitalization in the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection, affect the skeletal muscle phenotype and adipose tissue of COVID-19 survivors during outpatient follow-up after discharge. This retrospective, single-center study included COVID-19 survivors hospitalized from March 2020 to April 2021, who attended outpatient follow-ups 3 to 9 months after discharge. Patients were divided into two groups based on inflammatory levels during hospitalization: (1) low NLR (≤4.2) and (2) high NLR (>4.2). The skeletal muscle phenotype and adipose tissue were assessed using computed tomography. The study included 60 patients: 20 low NLR and 40 high NLR. The high NLR group was unexpectedly younger, but had longer hospital stays and required more intensive care. We observed a reduction in skeletal muscle radiodensity and an increase in skeletal muscle fat in both groups. However, we observed no differences in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue between hospitalization and follow-up. We conclude that COVID-19 survivors show reduced skeletal muscle radiodensity and increased skeletal muscle fat infiltration post-hospitalization, regardless of NLR levels during acute infection. In addition, age and intramuscular fat infiltration during hospitalization are associated with reducing skeletal muscle radiodensity. This highlights the need for targeted rehabilitation to address long-term muscle effects and recovery.

The Karo Batak inhabit the northern regions of the Bukit Barisan (a mountain range running from north to south on the island of Sumatra) and the coastal lowlands of Sumatra's east coast. The Karo of the highland plateau, nowadays called \"kabupaten\" Karo (Karo regency), combine agriculture with pastoralism and the collection of forest products. They live in villages, which in the hilly landscape look like small islands surrounded by wide expanses of agricultural land, savannah, and forest. Dry rice cultivation was traditionally the main agricultural activity. The cycle of dry rice cultivation is relevant to Karo Batak village life and rituals. To the Karo, Beru Dayang, the spirit of rice, is female. In the process of growing dry rice various stages are distinguished, all bearing the ritual name of \"beru dayang\". However, in certain rituals the term is applied to other visible matter, such as parts of the house, ritual equipment, and features of the surrounding landscape. This paper examines appearances of the \"beru dayang\" in a Karo Batak ritual chant, in dry rice cultivation, in the order of seasons, in the mythical affinity with the spirits of the \"arenga\" palm and rainbow, in the female body, and in the bodily elements of amniotic fluid and placenta. This leads to the question of how Beru Dayang is related to the fertility of both rice and people.