The Relationship Between Diet, Body Composition, and Grip Strength in Professional Cheerleaders

Background: Studies suggest that there is a relationship between 24-hour and within-day energy balance and body composition. In sports with value placed on weight and appearance, an increased prevalence of energy deficiency has been found, which has multiple health and performance implications. In particular, low energy availability is associated with higher body fat percent and lower muscle and bone mass, all of which negatively influence performance. This study assessed professional cheerleaders on dietary intake, within-day and 24-hour energy balance, protein consumption, body composition, and handgrip strength. Professional cheerleaders have not been previously studied on these factors. Objective: To assess dietary intake, body composition, and grip strength of professional cheerleaders on an active roster and investigate relationships between these factors. Our investigation focused on assessing if long periods of energy balance deficits are associated with reduced grip strength and higher body fat percent, and if protein consumption patterns are associated with grip strength and body composition. Methods: The study population consisted of 19 women, ages 18-32 yr. (mean = 25.4 yr.), who were interviewed to obtain a one-day recall of dietary intake and energy expenditures to determine dietary/nutrient intake and hourly energy balance using the USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference and a relative intensity activity scale (NutriTiming® LLC). Multi-current, 8-mode segmental bioelectric impedance analysis was used to predict body composition, and handgrip strength was assessed using a hand dynamometer. Results: Dietary inadequacies in energy (p\u3c0.001) and carbohydrate (p\u3c0.001) were significantly below recommended values. Subjects with the lowest body fat percent had significantly higher energy intakes (p=0.011), spent more time in an anabolic state (p=0.048), less time in a catabolic state (p=0.048), had more eating opportunities of up to 30-grams protein (p=0.015), and consumed more their protein while in a positive energy balance (p=0.025). Participants with higher body fat mass consumed less total energy (p=0.012), had more severe energy balance deficits (p= 0.032), and spent more time in a catabolic state (p=0.048). Conclusion: Adequate energy intake that results in less time in a catabolic state and more frequent consumption of moderate amounts of protein (~30 grams/meal) was associated with lower body fat percent and increased muscle mass in professional cheerleaders. It appears from these data that “dieting” behaviors resulting in large energy balance deficits with longer periods in a catabolic state appeared counterproductive, as this was associated with greater body fat percent, lower muscle mass, and lower grip strength

Dynamics and structure of hydrophilic polymers at the interface between two surfaces: Smart Sealing in Short Time

The comprehension of mechanisms that drive the dynamics of hydrophilic polymer chains at the interface between two surfaces is relevant for fundamental research and, at the same time, can bring useful applicative implications in industrial field. In particular, understanding all the involved processes at molecular level is useful to clarify and optimize the welding mechanism between hydrophilic polymers, identifying the key parameters which control an efficient sealing in a short time. In this framework, Polyvinil-alcohol (PVA) is selected as hydrophilic polymer and welding between polymer layers is carried out using the water as diffusivity enhancer. As water is a good solvent for PVA, water acts as an adhesive, triggering different processes at the interface. In our approach, we focused on the molecular comprehension of polymer-solvent interactions and their diffusion mechanisms, as well as the role of crystallization at interface. We observed that the welding process of PVA films is likely to involve not only the dynamics of the chains, and polymer dissolution by effect of water, but also the crystallization taking place at the interface including melting/recrystallization phenomena, nucleation and/or grown rate of the crystals, location of nuclei, etc.. By the individuation of the parameters affecting the final welding, this work lays the basis for implementing a more efficient welding process, tuning the sealing strength, and opens the way for the design of different films suitable for specific commercial needs

Dynamic Assessment of Early French Immersion Literacy Learning Competencies

French Immersion programming in Canada is not always an inclusive environment for all learners. Students with language disabilities or delays are often placed into English-only programming when difficulties arise in French immersion programming. This study aimed to establish a method of identification of reading difficulties, in either language, early in the reading process. Such an assessment would allow educators to intervene and assist these students, and all students, with reading and vocabulary development in their second language of French before these language issues can negatively affect learning. Essential to language learning in immersion programs is the development of speech perception and lexical specificity, defined as the knowledge of how words should sound in a language. Dynamic assessments in both French and English were used as they focus on how well a student can learn a concept. This project examined second language (L2) French learning in a dynamic way to predict literacy learning in children who are not yet proficient readers in English, their first language (L1). The particular skills of phonological awareness and vocabulary development in both L1 and L2 were examined. A one-year longitudinal study was conducted to investigate the language abilities of children in French immersion in grade 2. In L1, dynamic assessments were better predictors of vocabulary than static assessments. In L2, static assessments were better predictors of vocabulary than dynamic assessments. In L1, lexical specificity, word reading, phonological awareness (elision), and rapid naming predicted word reading. In L2, phonological awareness (elision) in both French and English, and French word reading predicted word reading

How-to-Do-It Stories Rank High with Editors in South Carolina

All of the 19 daily (AMs and PMs) and the more than 100 weekly newspaper editors in South Carolina were sent questionnaires

Changes in the benthic algal flora and vegetation of a semi-enclosed Mediterranean coastal lagoon (Stagnone di Marsala, Western Sicily)

È stato condotto uno studio sulla flora e vegetazione macroalgale dello Stagnone di Marsala (Trapani) con l’obiettivo di fornire una revisione dei dati riportati in letteratura ed esaminare i principali cambiamenti che si sono verificati nell’intera area negli ultimi tre decenni. La flora algale è risultata più povera rispetto al passato (94 taxa contro 108), mostrando un incremento delle Cloroficee e una riduzione delle Rodoficee e delle Feoficee. Solo 48 taxa sono stati riportati precedentemente, mentre 46 sono nuovi per lo Stagnone. Tra questi, è interessante sottolineare sia da un punto di vista floristico che ecologico, il ritrovamento per la prima volta dell’alga bruna Cystoseira compressa (Esper) Gerloff & Nizamuddin e delle alghe invasive Caulerpa cylindracea Sonder e Lophocladia lallemandii (Montagne) F. Schmitz. Al contrario, 60 taxa riportati precedentemente non sono stati trovati nel presente studio. In particolare, si annovera la scomparsa dell’alga verde Lamprothamnium papulosum (Wallroth) Groves e dell’alga bruna Cystoseira barbata (Stackhouse) C. Agardh f. aurantia (Kützing) Giaccone. L’elevato grado di confinamento e la natura del substrato sono stati i principali fattori che hanno influenzato il numero dei taxa e l’abbondanza delle comunità fitobentoniche, con valori massimi nelle stazioni caratterizzate da un buon ricambio idrico e/o dalla presenza di comunità dominate da Cystoseira. Nel presente studio vengono proposte alcune ipotesi per descrivere i cambiamenti nella composizione e struttura delle comunità fitobentoniche all’interno della laguna come conseguenza degli effetti del riscaldamento globale in atto negli ultimi anni.A study of the benthic macroalgal flora and vegetation of the Stagnone di Marsala (Trapani) has been performed in order to provide an up-to-date review of the status of and verify main changes that have occurred in the area over the past three decades. The flora of this study was poorer in taxa than that of literature (94 taxa against 108), with an increase in Chlorophyta and a decrease in Rhodophyta and Phaeophyceae. Only 48 taxa in the present flora have been previously reported, while 46 are new for the Stagnone. Among these, it was noteworthy, from both floristic and ecological point of view, the record for the first time of Cystoseira compressa (Esper) Gerloff & Nizamuddin and the invasive algae Caulerpa cylindracea Sonder and Lophocladia lallemandii (Montagne) F. Schmitz. On the contrary, 60 taxa previously reported have not been detected during the present study. Among these, Lamprothamnium papulosum (Wallroth) Groves and Cystoseira barbata (Stackhouse) C. Agardh f. aurantia (Kützing) Giaccone have been the most significant disappearances. High degree of confinement and sediment composition were the major factors affecting number of taxa and abundance of the phytobenthic communities, with maximum values in the stations characterized by a good water exchange and/or presence of Cystoseira assemblages. As a result of the effects of global warming over the past few years, noticeable changes in composition and structure of phytobenthic communities in the lagoon have been observed and some hypotheses of expected changes are here proposed

Conditions of a Simulated Society:Reorienting the Real Estate of the 1 Times Square Tower

The proposed intervention is to redesign and redevelop the currently vacant 1 Times Square tower with the program of a visual and performing arts school. The highly internalizes characteristics of this program will offer opportunities for the lively local culture of the area to exist not only on the interior, but also on the exterior of the building

Origins of stable isotopic variations in Late Pleistocene horse enamel and bone from Alberta

Oxygen and carbon isotopic measurements of coevally formed bone and tooth enamel bioapatite from a modern equid show that these tissues record drinking water and diet isotopic signals in an identical fashion. Hence, data for both tissues can be combined to track movement, dietary changes, and seasonal variability over the animal’s lifetime, and climatic variability over longer time periods. This tool was tested for horses using ten paired tooth and bone samples to reconstruct conditions in Alberta during the Late Pleistocene. While post-mortem isotopic alteration confounded interpretation of the results, two key findings emerged: (i) pre- and post-Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) time periods based on radiocarbon dates correspond with high and low δ15N collagen values, respectively; and (ii) pre- and post-LGM horses have similar drinking water δ18O and diet δ13C values, suggesting that environmental conditions, including seasonality, were similar across the time periods represented by these samples

They were Triomphanti: The Italian Homesteading Experience in Saskatchewan, 1896-1930

Most scholarly research on immigration in Saskatchewan at the turn of the twentieth century has asserted that Italians were not permanent homesteading farmers. This is in part a reflection of prejudices at both the governmental and popular levels that were held at the time. They believed that Italians were transient migrants and only suitable for labour employment. Research into census, homesteading files, and local history books from the period of 1896-1930 demonstrates that this was not the case. It is argued that not only were there greater numbers of rural Italian immigrants in Saskatchewan than has hitherto been acknowledged, but that many were successful, permanent settlers who actively engaged in agricultural and communal endeavours

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Flavanones from Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (licorice) Leaf Phytocomplexes: Identification of Licoflavanone as a Modulator of NF-kB/MAPK Pathway

Inflammation represents an adaptive response generated by injuries or harmful stimuli. Natural remedies represent an interesting alternative to traditional therapies, involving several biochemical pathways. Besides, the valorization of agrochemical wastes nowadays seems to be a feasible way to reduce the health spending and improve the accessibility at bioactive natural compounds. In this context, the chemical composition of three Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (licorice) leaf extracts, obtained through maceration or ultrasound-assisted method (fresh and dried leaves) was investigated. A guided fractionation obtained three main components: pinocembrin, glabranin and licoflavanone. All the extracts showed similar antioxidant properties, evaluated by 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) or 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) Diammonium Salt (ABTS) assay, while, among the isolated compounds, licoflavanone exhibited the best antioxidant activity. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts and the purified compounds was investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Extract C and licoflavanone showed a good anti-inflammatory activity without affecting cell viability, as they decreased nitrite levels even when used at 12.5 μg/mL (p < 0.005) and 50 μM concentration (p < 0.001), respectively. Interestingly, licoflavanone markedly decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines and cyclooxygenase 2/inducible nitric oxide synthase (COX-2/iNOS) expression levels (p < 0.001). A modulation of nuclear factor kappa B/mitogen-activated protein kinases (NF-kB/MAPK) pathway underlay such behavior, highlighting the potential of this natural compound as a new scaffold in anti-inflammatory drug research