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The Role of Iron in Athletic Health and Performance: Challenges and Nutritional Approaches
No full textIron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional issues in athletes. Numerous studies have shown that most iron deficiency issues are caused by low dietary intake. It has been suggested that athletes increase their iron intake, via certain foods, supplements, or even intravenous administrations. Despite increased iron intake from food, supplements, or intravenous administration, iron deficiency remains prevalent in athletes, suggesting additional physiological factors such as iron output during exercising. Further research is being done to understand the relationship between iron status and physical activity. Iron deficiency is noticed in endurance athletes and female athletes the most. When iron intake is lower than iron output, it is released from ferritin in the liver and increases serum iron concentration. Approximately 85% percent of erythrocyte iron is released into the form of transferring and ferritin. The remaining is stored in the form of hemosiderin and ferritin.
When an iron deficiency occurs, it limits the hematopoietic tissues, which can lead to a decrease in hemoglobin concentration and anemia. Numerous biological functions, such as immune function, sympathetic nerve function, endocrine metabolism, and thermoregulation, are all reduced when iron levels are low. For endurance athletes, iron deficiency is common due to prolonged training and constant impacts on the ground. There have been several physiological mechanisms proposed to explain the loss of iron from the impact on the plantar surface area. When intensely exercising, it can increase the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, stimulating hepcidin production. The serum hepcidin levels also increase about 3-6 hours after exercising. Prolonged exercise is the cause of the increase in circulating IL-6 levels. This mechanism is suggested to be responsible for the increase after exercise, and hepcidin expression is due to an elevated IL-6. In aerobic exercise, studies have shown that in female athlete’s iron is lost 20% faster than in non-athletes. When comparing aerobic exercise and resistance training, there are not many studies on the effects of aerobic exercise on iron metabolism. However, mild resistance has been shown to improve subclinical iron deficiency in women without iron supplements. Most male athletes are not anemic because they tend to consume more than the recommended amount of iron, however most female athletes do, which could play a part in their iron deficiency. Additional studies have been conducted in rats to see if meal timing paired with resistance training could improve iron deficiency. Plasma iron increased after exercise but did not increase due to the food given. Given the persistent prevalence of iron deficiency, athletes should regularly assess their iron levels and consider tailored strategies to optimize iron status, including dietary modifications, supplementation, and training adjustments.https://digitalcommons.jsu.edu/ce_jsustudentsymp_2025/1056/thumbnail.jp
Effects of Caffeine Ingestion on Pulmonary Kinetics and Muscle Fatigue During Severe-Intensity Cycling Exercise
No full textPlease note: no video is available for this presentation.
Caffeine ingestion has been studied concerning its effects on pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics, muscle fatigue, blood lactate concentration, and perceived exertion during severe-intensity cycling exercise. A primary hypothesis from research has been to explore whether caffeine can reduce the slow component and muscle fatigue without altering the time constant of kinetics. In a controlled study, physically active men, in their mid to late twenties, participated in cycling tests under caffeine intake (6 mg/kg body mass) and a placebo, not knowing which one they received. The tests measured the difference between the gas exchange threshold and peak, with an isokinetic sprint conducted before and after the test to assess the participant’s muscle fatigue. Several physiological and performance components were analyzed, including kinetics, primary time constant, slow components, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and peak torque.
Caffeine ingestion did not significantly alter the primary time constant, or the peak torque compared to the placebo. It is suggested that caffeine does not affect the rate of oxidative metabolism or the accumulation of fatigue-related metabolites during severe-intensity exercise. Caffeine enhances the drive of active muscles.
Caffeine’s ergogenic effects may not stem from changes in kinetics. Caffeine’s performance-enhancing properties involve other mechanisms, such as stimulation of anaerobic glycolysis and central nervous system activity. Caffeine ingestion can reduce the muscle’s ability to gain power during intense exercise and mentally drain an individual. Increased blood lactate concentration reflects a greater reliance on anaerobic metabolism, driving adrenaline release while decreasing RPE. This may be due to caffeine’s antagonistic effects on adenosine receptors, reducing the perception of fatigue and pain.
In conclusion, caffeine ingestion does not influence kinetics or muscle fatigue during severe-intensity cycling. However, it reduces the perceived exertion and increases blood lactate concentration. The findings indicate that caffeine’s ergogenic effects are primarily through the central and metabolic pathways rather than direct changes in oxygen uptake kinetics or fatigue resistance.https://digitalcommons.jsu.edu/ce_jsustudentsymp_2025/1044/thumbnail.jp
Investigating the Predatory Behavior of the Bumblebee Assassin Snail (Anentome helena) and the Potential Ecological Implications in Invaded Freshwater Systems
No full textThe bumble-bee assassin snail, Anentome helena, native to freshwaters of Malaysia, is one of only a few freshwater species in the marine lineage, Neogastropoda, that includes predatory snails such as whelks and cone snails. This snail is widely available in the aquarium trade, tolerant of a wide range of water temperatures, survives adverse transport conditions, and readily reproduces in captive conditions. To date, no invasive populations are reported, and the invasion threat is not-well understood. While anecdotal evidence from hobby aquarists suggest that these snails are voracious, generalist predators of snails; the importance of prey size, prey type, and behavior of predator and prey is insufficiently examined. Visual analyses of assassin snail predation of operculate snails were restricted to aperture widths of less than 10 mm, regardless of snail species. Feeding trials also showed that assassin snails are generalist molluscivores as they readily consumed Asiatic clams. This is a significant finding, as prior to this study, no reports of assassin snails consuming non-snail taxa are documented. Finally, regardless of prey type, time-lapsed filming showed that assassin snails aggregate when hunting, although the association among snails (positive or negative) is unknown. Further research describing assassin snail life-history, environmental constraints, and feeding niche breadth are needed to determine potential injurious impacts on invaded systems.https://digitalcommons.jsu.edu/ce_jsustudentsymp_2025/1041/thumbnail.jp
Utilizing Diagnostic Ultrasound to Diagnose Stress Fractures in High School Athletes: A Critically Appraised Topic
No full textContext: Stress fractures are a common issue in adolescent athletes, particularly those engaged in high-impact sports. Traditional diagnostic tools, such as X-rays, may fail to detect early-stage stress fractures, delaying treatment, and prolonging recovery. Diagnostic ultrasound (US) is a promising non-invasive, real-time imaging tool that offers portability, cost-effectiveness, and dynamic assessment capabilities, making it valuable in sports medicine settings. This critically appraised topic explores the efficacy of diagnostic US in identifying stress fractures in high school athletes and its implications for prognosis and return-to-play timelines.
Methods: A computerized search was completed in October 2024. The search terms used were stress fracture, diagnosis, adolescent, diagnostic ultrasound, manage, athlete, ultrasonography, and bone injury. Electronic databases used were JSU GEM Finder and SPORTDiscus. Inclusion criteria: Studies from the past 10 years written in the English language, that directly examined diagnostic US\u27s role in diagnosing stress fractures in adolescents. Exclusion criteria: adult population, therapeutic ultrasound, and fracture. Validity of the selected studies was determined using the PEDro and QUADAS checklists. One author independently reviewed the studies, scored each paper, and reviewed the completed appraisals to come to a consensus on the study quality.
Results: The literature search retrieved 413 total articles and 408 were excluded based on the inclusion criteria, resulting in five studies. Diagnostic US demonstrated high sensitivity (80%-100%) for detecting stress fractures in the tibia and metatarsals, comparable to MRI in lower extremities. Specificity ranged from 53%-79%. Furthermore, diagnostic US was cost-effective and provided real-time imaging, facilitating quicker return-to-play decisions. However, its accuracy depended heavily on the operator\u27s skill and was less effective for deep bone structures.
Conclusions: Diagnostic US is a valuable tool for athletic trainers and healthcare providers in the early detection of stress fractures in adolescent athletes, especially in resource-limited or sideline settings. While it cannot replace MRI, it can serve as an initial diagnostic step, ruling out injuries and expediting care founded in managing costs and improved accuracy of diagnoses. A multifaceted diagnostic approach combining US and MRI can optimize outcomes, enabling a faster recovery and safer return to play.https://digitalcommons.jsu.edu/ce_jsustudentsymp_2025/1029/thumbnail.jp
Roles of Carbohydrates, Protein, and Amino Acids for Athletic Performance and Recovery
No full textIn athletes, performance and recovery can be greatly helped by carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids. The quality and timing of these nutrients can also help with things such as muscle growth, glycogen replenishment and protein breakdown. Clear and practical recommendations are essential to helping athletes integrate these strategies effectively into their training and recovery routines. Carbohydrates, proteins, and amino acids can also aid muscle recovery by boosting protein turnover, increasing insulin levels, and lowering cortisol levels, which can support muscle protein synthesis, glycogen resynthesis, and limits degradation. When carefully planned, they can lead to increased muscle growth, improved strength, and greater endurance, specified to the unique needs of the athlete. Implementing these strategies can help athletes sustain performance during intense training sessions.
The “pathway of adaptation model” highlights the interactions between resistance training, nutrition, and molecular adaptations. Nutrient timing—before, during, and after exercise—is a crucial factor in creating an anabolic environment. For example, carbs can help conserve and replenish glycogen, while proteins and amino acids can activate pathways like mTOR and leucine signaling, enhancing the synthesis of muscle protein, and promoting recovery. This approach can ensure that athletes can consistently perform at their absolute best!
For instance, athletes should understand the importance of choosing the correct nutrients, which includes comparing and choosing between whey and casein proteins, dosing guidelines, and when to consume them in relation to their training schedules. Optimizing recovery and enhancing athletic performance through combining nutrients like carbs, proteins and their constituent amino acids has been demonstrated. Athletes\u27 energy needs may vary based on their sport, age, gender, and training goals, allowing for personalized strategies. For example, a weightlifter may prioritize glycogen replenishment and protein intake for muscle growth, while an endurance runner benefits from sustained carb consumption for prolonged energy. It is also important to plan for the long term, to keep getting nutrients over time without over or underloading the body with them. Certain variations in genetics, training status, and diet can lead to different outcomes, making individualization crucial! Ongoing research explores specific amino acids and innovative supplementation strategies. With advancements in metabolic profiling, personalized nutrition plans are becoming more viable, offering more precise, targeted interventions for athletes.
To maximize the benefits of resistance training, athletes can prioritize high-quality proteins after training sessions, consume carb-rich drinks during training, and eat balanced meals combining carbs and protein within an hour post-exercise. Modifications may depend on training intensity and the athlete’s reaction to supplementation, but by implementing these strategies it can enhance recovery, build strength, and support long-term performance for the athlete.https://digitalcommons.jsu.edu/ce_jsustudentsymp_2025/1026/thumbnail.jp
Empowering Female Athletes: Optimized Nutritional Strategies for Health, Performance, and Recovery
No full textPlease note: no video is available for this presentation.
Nutrition plays a crucial role in optimizing sports performance and recovery. While a balanced diet is essential for enhancing performance, recovery, and overall health, research on nutrition tailored to female athletes and physically active women remains limited. As gender equality progresses in sports, there is a growing need to understand nutrition strategies specifically for female athletes and physically active women. Understanding why sports nutrition is important for both genders and not just nutrition for men will help bridge the gaps for the best supplements for female athletes and physically active women. Analyzing these studies will help nutritionists improve what works best for females. For instance, research indicates that nutrition plays a key role in addressing the unique physiological needs of female athletes. The findings were on physiological and hormonal fluctuations and dietary supplements in sports nutrition. Insights indicate hormonal fluctuations during the menstruation cycle, such as an increase in estrogen in the follicular phase and decreased levels in the luteal phase, which influence bone density, muscle mass, and metabolic responses. Findings also emphasize the importance of addressing deficiencies in Vitamin B12, Iron, Calcium, and Vitamin C to mitigate hormonal challenges and support overall health. Iron supplements can improve performance in anemic female athletes, but research on this is still limited. Research indicates anemia in females deals with a condition where the blood flow decreases to the organs and tissues. Also, the decrease in the iron supplement can cause side effects such as headaches, shortness of breath, fatigue and other decreasing symptoms. A high-carbohydrate diet supports glycogen replenishment and metabolism, leading to better performance and faster recovery. More research indicates that carbohydrates provide a source of energy for intense performance and can significantly help muscle recovery. Furthermore, macronutrients are Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, such as those found in grains, pasta, fruits, and saltine crackers. Studies indicate athletes with higher carbohydrates in dietary benefits are increasing energy while following strict dietary nutritional values. The glycemic influences blood sugar. Therefore, foods containing sugar or starches. Additionally, it plays a very dedicated role in the body. Finally, these insights indicate the need for gender-specific nutrition to help athletes optimize performance, recovery, and overall health in professional and recreational sports. For instance, it is tailored toward national strategies based on physical differences, hormonal imbalances, and specific energy demands, which can enhance endurance, strength, and injury prevention. In addition, personalized nutrition plans can address unique requirements such as bone health, muscle recovery, and metabolic variations, ensuring that male and female athletes achieve their careers and well-being.https://digitalcommons.jsu.edu/ce_jsustudentsymp_2025/1009/thumbnail.jp
A Case Study in Accessible AR and 3D Illustration
No full textCreating with AR allows illustrators and designers to develop novel experiences for viewers; creating new avenues for storytelling. This presentation walks participants through an investigative augmented reality advertising campaign that seeks to lower the barrier of entry in to AR and 3D illustration through accessible programs and easy to implement workflows. This project, and the documentation of its creation, simplifies complex skills and concepts allowing creative professionals of all disciplines to implement 3D AR into their creative practice.
Created almost entirely with applications native to the iPad the workow is inspired by industry standard 3D pipelines. The project documentation serves as a guide for others beginning with initial concept development and ending with nal presentation and dispersion techniques that are conceptually relevant. Along the way, the documentation illustrates basic 3D sculpting and eciency techniques, the importance of user testing, and the limitations and advantages of certain AR programs.
The Mystery of Sweetbrier, while created as advertising for an original video game concept, is also an example of what the tools currently available to designers and illustrators are capable of. The documentation of the process seeks to educate and encourage creative professionals to continue to experiment with its capabilities.https://digitalcommons.jsu.edu/ce_jsustudentsymp_2025/1008/thumbnail.jp
Houston Cole Library Annual Report | January - December 2024
No full textThe Houston Cole Library Annual Report details Library collections, services, events, faculty activities, and more for the past calendar year.https://digitalcommons.jsu.edu/lib_ac_coletrain/1039/thumbnail.jp
Combination of HDAC and FYN Inhibitors in Synovial Sarcoma
No full textThe SS18-SSX fusion protein is an oncogenic driver in synovial sarcoma. At the molecular level, SS18-SSX functions as both an activator and a repressor to coordinate transcription of different genes responsible for tumorigenesis. Here, we identify the proto-oncogene FYN as a new SS18-SSX target gene and examine its relation to synovial sarcoma therapy. FYN is a tyrosine kinase that promotes cancer growth, metastasis and therapeutic resistance, but SS18-SSX appears to negatively regulate FYN expression in synovial sarcoma cells. Using both genetic and histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi)-based pharmacologic approaches, we show that suppression of SS18-SSX leads to FYN reactivation. In support of this notion, we find that blockade of FYN activity synergistically enhances HDACi action to reduce synovial sarcoma cell proliferation and migration. Our results support a role for FYN in attenuation of anti-cancer activity upon inhibition of SS18-SSX function and demonstrate the feasibility of targeting FYN to improve the effectiveness of HDACi treatment against synovial sarcoma
Revealing The Truth: Entry View 2
No full textDisplay of printed bookletshttps://digitalcommons.jsu.edu/etds_mfa_images/1151/thumbnail.jp