Attenuating Muscle Damage Biomarkers and Muscle Soreness After an Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage with Branched-Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) Supplementation:A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis with Meta-regression

Background: Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation is one of the most popular strategies used by the general population and athletes to reduce muscle soreness and accelerate the recovery process of muscle damage biomarkers after an intense exercise or training session. Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effects of BCAA supplementation on muscle damage biomarkers and muscle soreness after exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Methods: The systematic literature search for randomized controlled trials was conducted using seven databases, up to September 13th, 2022. The eligibility criteria for selecting studies were as follows: studies performed on healthy active participants, using BCAA at least once, controlled with a placebo or control group, performing resistance or endurance exercises, and followed up at least once post-EIMD. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the “SIGN RCT checklist”. Random-effects meta-analyses were processed to compute the standardized mean difference (Hedges’ g). Meta-regression analyses were completed with daily and total dosage and supplementation as continuous moderator variables. Results: Of the 18 studies included in this meta-analysis, 13 were of high quality and five were of acceptable quality. Our results revealed BCAA supplementation elicits a significant effect on reducing creatine kinase (CK) levels immediately (g = − 0.44; p = 0.006) and 72 h (g = − 0.99; p = 0.002), but not 24 h, 48 h, and 96 h post-EIMD. Additionally, a significant effect on delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) was identified at 24 h (g = − 1.34; p < 0.001), 48 h (g = − 1.75; p < 0.001), 72 h (g = − 1.82; p < 0.001), and 96 h (g = − 0.82; p = 0.008), but not immediately post-EIMD. No significant effect was found on lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels at any time point. Meta-regression indicated higher daily and total dosages of BCAA, and longer supplementation periods were related to the largest beneficial effects on CK (total dosage and supplementation period) at 48 h, and on DOMS at 24 h (only daily dosage). Conclusion: The overall effects of BCAA supplementation could be considered useful for lowering CK and DOMS after EIMD, but not LDH. The longer supplementation period prior to the EIMD could be more effective for CK and DOMS reduction

Helping Legumes under Stress Situations: Inoculation with Beneficial Microorganisms

In the upcoming years, legume crops will be subjected to multiple, diverse, and overlapping environmental stressors (raise in global temperatures and CO2, drought, salinity, and soil pollution). These factors will menace legume productivity and food quality and security. In this context, tolerant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are useful biotechnological tools to assist legume establishment and growth. In this chapter, tolerant PGPR able to promote legume growth will be revised. Besides, in the era of -omics, the mechanisms underlying this interaction are being deciphered, particularly transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic changes modulated by PGPR, as well as the molecular dialog legume-rhizobacteria

Anti-corrosive and oil sensitive coatings based on epoxy/polyaniline/magnetite-clay composites through diazonium interfacial chemistry

Epoxy polymer nanocomposites filled with magnetite (Fe3O4) clay (B), named (B-DPA-PANI@Fe3O4) have been prepared at different filler loading (0.1, 0.5, 1, 3, 5 wt. %). The surface modification of clay by polyaniline (PANI) is achieved in the presence of 4-diphenylamine diazonium salt (DPA). The effects of the nanofiller loading on Tensile, mechanical and dielectric properties were systematically studied. Improved properties was highlighted for all reinforced samples. The addition of only 3 wt. % of the filler enhanced the tensile strength of the composites by 256%, and the glass transition temperature Tg by 37%. The dielectric spectra over a broad frequency showed a robust interface between the hybrid (B-DPA-PANI@Fe3O4) fillers and epoxy matrix. The results showed most significant improvement in corrosion inhibition using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 3.5 wt % NaCl, as well as a significant response in oil sensing test. High charge transfer resistance of 110 × 106 Ω.cm2 using 3-wt % of filler was noted compared to 0.35 × 106 Ω.cm2 for the pure epoxy. The results obtained herein will open new routes for the preparation of efficient anticorrosion sensor coatings. © 2018, The Author(s).NPRP Award from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation) [8-878-1-172

GC/MS spectroscopic approach and antifungal potential of bioactive extracts produced by marine macroalgae

The antifungal activity and the chemical constituents of selected macroalgae collected from the Egyptian Mediterranean coast of Alexandria have been investigated. Agar well diffusion assay was used to determine the antifungal potential of the extractable matter against Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Tricoderma hamatum, Aspergillus flavipes and Candida albicans. The ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts (ULE2 and ULM5) of Ulva lactuca obtained from Al Selsela exhibited the highest activity with (AI) = 1.05 ± 0.053 and 1.03 ± 0.052, respectively, compared with fluconazole. However, the methanolic extract of U. lactuca (ULM1) from Abu Qir Bay showed (AI) = 0.73 ± 0.037. This followed by methanolic extracts of Pterocladia capillacea (PCM1: AI = 0.70 ± 0.035 and Ulva fasciata (UFM1: AI = 0.69 ± 0.035). GC/MS analysis of ULM1 and ULM5 indicated the existence of different constituents revealing ecological impacts. The methanolic extract (UFM1) contains six major components including palmitic acid, methylester, trichloromethyloxirane, linolenic acid, ethylester, 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol, 11-octadecenoic acid, methylester and 12,15-octadecadienoic acid, methylester. High percentages of palmitic acid, n-heptacosane, 2-methylhexadecan-1-ol, methoxy acetic acid, 2-tridecylester and myristic acid are found in the methanolic extract of P. capillacea (PCM1). Most of the identified components have been reported to possess antimicrobial activity that could be responsible for the antifungal potential reported in the present study

Temporal Graphs and Temporal Network Characteristics for Bio-Inspired Networks during Optimization

Temporal network analysis and time evolution of network characteristics are powerful tools in describing the changing topology of dynamic networks. This paper uses such approaches to better visualize and provide analytical measures for the changes in performance that we observed in Voronoi-type spatial coverage, particularly for the example of time-evolving networks with a changing number of wireless sensors being deployed. Specifically, our analysis focuses on the role different combinations of impenetrable obstacles and environmental noise play in connectivity and overall network structure. It is shown how the use of (i) temporal network graphs, and (ii) network centrality and regularity measures illustrate the differences between various options developed for the balancing act of energy and time efficiency in network coverage. Last, we compare the outcome of these measures with the less abstract classification variables, such as percent area covered and cumulative distance traveled

Temporal Graphs and Temporal Network Characteristics for Bio-Inspired Networks during Optimization

Temporal network analysis and time evolution of network characteristics are powerful tools in describing the changing topology of dynamic networks. This paper uses such approaches to better visualize and provide analytical measures for the changes in performance that we observed in Voronoi-type spatial coverage, particularly for the example of time-evolving networks with a changing number of wireless sensors being deployed. Specifically, our analysis focuses on the role different combinations of impenetrable obstacles and environmental noise play in connectivity and overall network structure. It is shown how the use of (i) temporal network graphs, and (ii) network centrality and regularity measures illustrate the differences between various options developed for the balancing act of energy and time efficiency in network coverage. Last, we compare the outcome of these measures with the less abstract classification variables, such as percent area covered and cumulative distance traveled

Emerging clay-aryl-gold nanohybrids for efficient electrocatalytic proton reduction

There is an ever growing demand for renewable sources of energy to replace conventional fossil fuels. One of the alternatives is usage of hydrogen production by electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Toward this end, we have successfully prepared a novel, robust electrocatalyst for HER containing Au nanoparticles dispersed on a natural bentonite using a simple one-pot reduction process. It is one of the most effective ways to minimize Au nanoparticle production cost, stability and usage. Bentonite clay was first modified using two coupling agents (mercaptosilane (MPS) or the diazonium salt of diphenyl aminoaniline (DPA)) to increase interlamellar spacing distance and to provide anchoring sites for the perfluorinated diazonium tetrachloroaurate (III) salt used as a unique source of zero-valent gold nanoparticles dispersed on bentonite surface. Successful intercalation was confirmed by the detection of F1s peak in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) at ∼689 eV, in line with fluorine in CF bonds, and the reduction of gold (III) into metallic gold. Both nanohybrids showed efficient electrochemical activity for HER in acidic condition (0.1 M H2SO4) with high current density up to −25 mA.cm−2 at −1 V and 0.148 mV onset. Negligible decreasing in current density and slight shift in onset was observed after 1000 cycles. The results obtained so far open new avenues for the preparation of low cost, efficient and stable HER catalyst on the one hand, and will contribute to the knowledge of the surface chemistry of the diazonium salts, on the other hand.The NPRP Award [8-878-1-172] made this manuscript possible from Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation)