Effect of alcohol intake on muscle glycogen storage after prolonged exercise

We studied the effects of alcohol intake on postexercise muscle glycogen restoration with samples from vastus lateralis being collected immediately after glycogen-depleting cycling and after a set recovery period. Six well-trained cyclists undertook a study of 8-h recovery (2 meals), and another nine cyclists undertook a separate 24-h protocol (4 meals). In each study, subjects completed three trials in crossover order: control (C) diet [meals providing carbohydrate (CHO) of 1.75 g/kg]; alcohol-displacement (A) diet (1.5 g/kg alcohol displacing CHO energy from C) and alcohol + CHO (AC) diet (C + 1.5 g/kg alcohol). Alcohol intake reduced postmeal glycemia especially in A trial and 24-h study, although insulin responses were maintained. Alcohol intake increased serum triglycerides, particularly in the 24-h study and AC trial. Glycogen storage was decreased in A diets compared with C at 8 h (24.4 ± 7 vs. 44.6 ± 6 mmol/kg wet wt, means ± SE, P < 0.05) and 24 h (68 ± 5 vs. 82 ± 5 mmol/kg wet wt, P < 0.05). There was a trend to reduced glycogen storage with AC in 8 h (36.2 ± 8 mmol/kg wet wt, P = 0.1) but no difference in 24 h (85 ± 9 mmol/kg wet wt). We conclude that 1) the direct effect of alcohol on postexercise glycogen synthesis is unclear, and 2) the main effect of alcohol intake is indirect, by displacing CHO intake from optimal recovery nutrition practices.

Carbohydrates and fat for training and recovery

An important goal of the athlete's everyday diet is to provide the muscle with substrates to fuel the training programme that will achieve optimal adaptation for performance enhancements. In reviewing the scientific literature on post-exercise glycogen storage since 1991, the following guidelines for the training diet are proposed. Athletes should aim to achieve carbohydrate intakes to meet the fuel requirements of their training programme and to optimize restoration of muscle glycogen stores between workouts. General recommendations can be provided, preferably in terms of grams of carbohydrate per kilogram of the athlete's body mass, but should be fine-tuned with individual consideration of total energy needs, specific training needs and feedback from training performance. It is valuable to choose nutrient-rich carbohydrate foods and to add other foods to recovery meals and snacks to provide a good source of protein and other nutrients. These nutrients may assist in other recovery processes and, in the case of protein, may promote additional glycogen recovery when carbohydrate intake is suboptimal or when frequent snacking is not possible. When the period between exercise sessions is  <8 h, the athlete should begin carbohydrate intake as soon as practical after the first workout to maximize the effective recovery time between sessions. There may be some advantages in meeting carbohydrate intake targets as a series of snacks during the early recovery phase, but during longer recovery periods (24 h) the athlete should organize the pattern and timing of carbohydrate-rich meals and snacks according to what is practical and comfortable for their individual situation. Carbohydrate-rich foods with a moderate to high glycaemic index provide a readily available source of carbohydrate for muscle glycogen synthesis, and should be the major carbohydrate choices in recovery meals. Although there is new interest in the recovery of intramuscular triglyceride stores between training sessions, there is no evidence that diets which are high in fat and restricted in carbohydrate enhance training.

Reintroduction for recovery of New Holland mouse in Victoria, Australia

The New Holland Mouse (Pseudomys novaehollandiae) has a highly fragmented distribution in SE Australia. The abundance of the species is correlated with habitat succession. Optimal habitat has been identified as 2-3 years after fire, with population densities declining, sometimes to extinction, as vegetation ages. The species has become extinct at many locations in Victoria and, in 1999, was known to be extant at only four localities. When a remnant population at one locality (Anglesea) was considered at high risk of extinction, objectives identified to recover the species included determination of suitable habitat, development of ecological burning regimes, captive breeding and reintroductions. A GIS-based predictive model of habitat capability was consequently produced, areas of potentially suitable habitat for reintroductions identified and ecological burning regimes implemented. Experimental releases began in 2001 when predator-proof acclimatisation enclosures were constructed at two sites, selected on the basis of their habitat suitability. Small groups of animals have been released into, and subsequently out of, these enclosures. Movements and activity have been monitored by live-trapping, fluorescent dye and radio-tracking techniques. The results of trials have been assessed. Un-collared animals dispersed from the enclosures into surrounding areas, and gained weight, while initial releases of collared animals were less successful. Techniques and planning to improve future releases have been formulated. The future of the species in Victoria may be reliant upon the success of captive breeding and reintroductions.

Optimal actuator fault tolerance for static nonlinear systems based on minimum output velocity jump

Fault tolerance for a class of non linear systems is addressed based on the velocity of their output variables. This paper presents a mapping to minimize the possible jump of the velocity of the output, due to the actuator failure. The failure of the actuator is assumed as actuator lock. The mapping is derived and it provides the proper input commands for the healthy actuators of the system to tolerate the effect of the faulty actuator on the output of the system. The introduced mapping works as an optimal input reconfiguration for fault recovery, which provides a minimum velocity jump suitable for static nonlinear systems. The proposed mapping is validated through different case studies and a complementary simulation. In the case studies and the simulation, the mapping provides the commands to compensate the effect of different faults within the joints of a robotic manipulator. The new commands and the compare between the velocity of the output variables for the health and faulty system are presented.

Highly sensitive SnO2 nanofiber chemiresistors with a low optimal operating temperature: synergistic effect of Cu2+/Au co-doping

Metal oxide chemiresistors (MOCs) with a low optimal operating temperature, high sensitivity and fast response/recovery are highly promising for various applications, but remain challenging to realize. Herein, we demonstrate that SnO2 nanofibers after being co-doped with Cu2+ and Au show considerably enhanced sensing performances at an unexpectedly decreased operating temperature. A synergistic effect occurs when the two dopants are introduced together. Co-doping may form a novel strategy to the development of ultrasensitive MOCs working at a low optimal temperature. This journal is © the Partner Organisations 2014.