Digital Commons Network^™

Smartpaddle® As A New Monitoring Feature: A Comparison Between Inertial Measurement Unit- And Strain Gauge-Based Devices On Tethered Swimming Forces., Joao Octavio Campos, Felipe Ribeiro, Gabriel L. Pereira, Marcelo Papoti

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(6): 670-681, 2024. Smartpaddle^® is a novel wearable device based on inertial measurement units (IMU) for in-field arm-stroke kinetics and kinematics analysis in swimming. However, the lack of data regarding its agreement and reliability, coupled with restricted access to raw data, emphasizes the need to evaluate it against a well-established strain gauge (SG) reference method for assessing swimming forces. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the agreement and reliability between the Smartpaddle^® and strain gauge in a 30-s all-out arms-only tethered swimming test. Twelve trained young adult swimmers performed a test-retest 30-s all-out …

Shoulder Taps: Relationships Between A New Movement Screening Assessment With Body Composition And Physical Fitness In Law Enforcement Recruits, Caitlyn E. Heredia, J. Jay Dawes, Joseph Dulla, Robin (Rob) Marc Orr, Robert G. Lockie

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(4): 702-719, 2024. The overhead squat, as part of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), can analyze total- and lower-body mechanics. Shoulder taps, which incorporates a push-up position and challenges shoulder, trunk, and hip stability, may identify movement deficiencies indicated by multiple FMS actions which could be useful for law enforcement recruits. This study determined overhead squat and shoulder taps relationships, associations between these screens with body composition and fitness, and differences in body composition and fitness according to overhead squat/shoulder taps scores in recruits by sex. Retrospective analysis was conducted on 202 recruit datasets (158 …

Β-Alanine Plus Sodium Bicarbonate Co-Supplementation Does Not Decrease Neuromuscular Fatigue In Swimming, Felipe Alves Ribeiro, Danilo Rodrigues Bertucci, Carlos Augusto Kalva-Filho, Tarine Botta De Arruda, Matheus Silva Norberto, Giovanni Loureiro Raspantini, Ellen Cristini De Freitas, Alessandro Moura Zagatto, Marcelo Papoti

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(2): 648-659, 2024. This study aimed to investigate the effects of chronic β-alanine (βA) plus acute sodium bicarbonate (SB) co-supplementation on neuromuscular fatigue during high-intensity intermittent efforts in swimming. Eleven regional and national competitive-level young swimmers performed a neuromuscular fatigue assessment before and immediately after two 20 × 25-m front crawl maximal efforts every 90 s, performed at pre- and post-4-week co-supplementation. Neuromuscular fatigue was evaluated by percutaneous electrical stimuli through the twitch interpolation technique on the triceps brachii and quadriceps femoris. Performance was defined by the mean time of the 20 efforts and …

Does Box Height Matter? A Comparative Analysis Of Box Height On Box Jump Performance In Men And Women, Marcel Lopes Dos Santos, Jocarol Shields, Ricardo Berton, Taylor K. Dinyer-Mcneely, Michael Trevino, Olivia Anderson, J. Jay Dawes

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(1): 720-729, 2024. This study aimed to analyze the effect of box height on box jump performance among recreationally active college students. Fourteen males (age = 20.8 ± 4.1 years, height = 178.3 ± 6.3 cm, weight = 82.3 ± 13.0 kg) and seventeen females (age = 20.8 ± 2.1 years, height = 167.1 ± 5.5 cm, weight = 64.5 ± 7.4 kg) completed box jumps at five different box heights that corresponded to 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80% of their maximal box jump height. Variables of interest included peak force, rate of force …

Improvements In Postural Stability, Dynamic Balance And Strength Following 12 Weeks Of Online Ballet-Modern Dance Classes For Older Women., Emma Hsiaowen Chen, Andreas Bergdahl, Mary Roberts

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(1): 682-701, 2024. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among older adults and affect women at disproportionate rates. Dance has been used to improve postural stability, balance confidence and strength of older adults, but in-person classes are often inaccessible. This quasi-experimental pre-mid-post design study investigates whether 12 weeks of online dance classes can improve postural stability, dynamic balance and strength of women aged 65 plus. 16 participants (median=74 years, IQR=6) recruited via convenience sampling completed 12 weeks of twice weekly 75-minute online dance classes. In-person pre, mid and post assessments used 30-second trials …

Comparison Of Different Take-Off Thresholds When Assessing Vertical Jump Performance, J. Chadwick Smith, Hugh Lamont, Madeleine Barefoot

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(1): 660-669, 2024. Reliably determining vertical jump (VJ) take-off on a force plate is crucial when identifying performance-related biomechanical factors. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare several take-off thresholds (20 N, 10 N, 5 N, 1 N, five standard deviations above an unloaded force plate (5SD), and peak residual force (PkRes) produced when the force plate was unloaded) in terms of jump height (JH), movement time (MT), reactive strength index modified (RSImod), net impulse (netIMP), and propulsive impulse (prIMP). Twenty-one participants performed five countermovement VJs on a force plate. All thresholds were …

Time Scale Separation In Life-Long Ovarian Follicles Population Dynamics Model, Romain Yvinec, Frédérique Clément, Guillaume Ballif

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Patterns And Potential Mechanisms Of Phenotypic Changes In Urban Small Mammals, Leslie Lopez

Master's Theses

Urbanization is an example of human induced rapid environmental change that can have wide-reaching ecological effects, including habitat destruction, fragmentation, and alteration of local climates. Effects of urbanization have been shown to impact wildlife, as disturbances resulting from urbanization can create novel environments and selective pressures that could lead to changes in morphology, physiology, or both. Small mammals such as rodents are an ecologically important set of wildlife species because they are a key prey item for several predators, hold strong influence over plants as a primary consumer, and some species carry and transmit major human and animal diseases. Previous …

Agreement Of Air Bike And Treadmill Protocols To Assess Maximal Oxygen Uptake: An Exploratory Study, Travis Lipscomb, Megan Sax Van Der Weyden, Ali Boolani, Bryan St. Andrews, Joel Martin

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(4): 633-647, 2024. Maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O_2max) is an important measure of aerobic fitness, with applications in evaluating fitness, designing training programs, and assessing overall health. While treadmill assessments are considered the gold standard, airbikes (ABs) are increasingly popular exercise machines. However, limited research exists on AB-based V̇O2max assessments, particularly regarding agreement with treadmill graded exercise tests. To address this gap, a randomized crossover study was conducted, involving 15 healthy adults (9M, 6F, 7 familiar with AB) aged 30.1 ± 8.6 years. Paired t-tests, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), Bland-Altman and Principal component …

The Effects Of A Core Stabilization Training Program On The Performance Of Functional Tasks In Firefighters, Emily G. Maxwell, Sean M. Collins, Jill M. Lucas

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(4): 602-610, 2024. The purpose of this study was to observe if core stabilization training plays a significant role in firefighter time-to-completion during a functional performance test. A within subjects study design was used in which subjects (n = 13, 84.6% male, 33.7 ± 7.4 years of age, 91.06 ± 13.29 kg, 25.79 ± 6.55 percent body fat, 8.96 ± 7.51 years of firefighting experience) completed two performance tests (pre and post core training), comprised of 7 firefighter-specific exercises performed while wearing a 22.68 kg weight vest to mimic typical firefighter equipment. Between testing …

Probing The Paradox: Investigating The Impact Of Affect, Exercise Type, And Cannabis Use On The Alcohol-Exercise Relationship In College Students, Vanessa Stallsmith, Cianna Piercey, Maggie Mataczynski, Hollis Karoly, Noah Emery

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(3): 623-632, 2024. Alcohol has previously shown a paradoxical positive relationship with exercise behaviors. However, the relationship has not been explored according to type of exercise (aerobic vs. anaerobic), nor has the research considered other contextual variables that commonly co-occur with alcohol use, such as cannabis and mood. This study sought to expand upon previous research to understand how the alcohol-exercise relationship may vary based on exercise type. Additionally, this study included cannabis use and mood as moderators of the alcohol-exercise association. Cross-sectional survey data was collected from college students (N = 335). Negative …

Effects Of Ankle Compression Garments On Fatigue And Single-Leg Balance In Collegiate Basketball Players, Lauren Debolt, Jeff Hamon, Justin Hu, Tyler Vickers, You-Jou Hung

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(1): 611-622, 2024. Basketball players are prone to ankle injuries. It is unclear if wearing ankle compression garments (CGs) can enhance balance control and time to fatigue in those athletes. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of ankle CGs on both time to fatigue and single-leg balance. Sixteen Division II (D2) collegiate basketball players participated in the study. The Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) was used to assess ankle stability. Fatigue was induced through deficit heel raises, and single-leg balance was assessed with the Athletic Single Leg Stability Test (ASLST) of …

Evaluating A Current Athlete Assessment Program, David Fish

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this dissertation is to evaluate the effectiveness of a questionnaire designed to assess coaches’ perceptions of an athlete monitoring program. There are four reasons for this examination of perceptions: 1) it may serve as a check for understanding of how the coach takes in the information presented to them, 2) identify any gaps in the knowledge of the coach which the sport scientist may help to fill, 3) can serve to open a dialog with the coach for ways in which the information may be better tailored to help them improve their decision-making, and 4) the …

The Role Of B Cell Activation State And Sex In Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Mediated Induction Of Chemokine Receptor 9 And Alpha4beta7 Expression In Vitro, Logan Bauerle

Master's Theses

Defense of mucosal tissues from microbial infection and allergy is reliant on continual production of antibodies. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is known to regulate B cell development and is associated with suppression of systemic humoral immunity. Recent attention has been paid to the role of the AhR in altering expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). B cells express CAMs and chemokine receptors to migrate around the body for localized secretion of antibodies. AhR agonists promote B cell migration to the small intestine through upregulation of chemokine receptor 9 (CCR9) and integrin α₄β₇. Both the AhR …

Sarcopenia And The Importance Of Resistance Training And Protein-Rich Diets For Prevention Of Muscle Loss In Older Adults: A Literature Review And Informational Pamphlet, Madison Steele

Honors Theses

The growing prevalence of sarcopenia among older adults as well as youths has prompted further research aimed at developing effective preventative measures and treatment plans. Sarcopenia is often thought to occur solely due to aging, but several other factors contribute to progressive muscle loss. Previous research studies have found an effect of physical activity and dietary protein levels on the risk of developing sarcopenia as well as its onset age. This study aims to review existing knowledge in the field to compile an extensive list of sarcopenia causes and methods of prevention. The main causes identified in this review are …

The Effects Of Water Submersion On Skeletal Muscle Activation, Fatigue, And Whole-Body Gas Exchange, Caroline Griffin, Robert J. Shute

Honors Projects

THE EFFECTS OF WATER SUBMERSION ON SKELETAL MUSCLE ACTIVATION, FATIGUE, AND WHOLE-BODY GAS EXCHANGE

C.C. Griffin. Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, VA.

Email: Cgriffin@eagles.bridgewater.edu

Fatigue of skeletal muscle can be affected by multiple environmental elements. Fatigue threshold can be measured by VO2 max on a cycle ergometer combined with the use of a metabolic cart and Electromyography (EMG) measurements. PURPOSE: The purpose of this experiment is to determine if water submersion affects skeletal muscle activation, fatigue, and whole-body gas exchange. METHODS: Three participants were recruited to participate in a cold and no temperature trial. Participants arrived and baseline vitals and measurements were …

Photobiomodulation Of Bovine Oocytes During Maturation Increases Atp Content And Enhances Subsequent Embryonic Development, Kendall Richey

All Theses

Bovine in-vitro production(IVP) of embryos is a growing field for producing offspring with desirable genetics in the cattle industries. While IVP is effective, oocyte cytoplasmic maturation is compromised, and bovine oocytes matured in-vitro have reduced metabolic activity than those matured in-vivo. Mitochondria are the central unit of oocyte metabolism, producing ATP through OXPHOS. Photobiomodulation is a light treatment reported to improve metabolic activity. In five experiments, we measured the effects of photobiomodulation treatment with red LED at 16-(L-16) and 20 h(L-20) of bovine oocyte in-vitro maturation on subsequent embryonic development, mitochondrial activity and nuclear progression. Bovine COCs were aspirated …

Artificial Insemination And Fetal Programming In Beef Production Systems, Dempster Christenson

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Pregnancy to artificial insemination and late gestation fetal programming of the next calf crop are central to genetic development, reproductive longevity, calf crop productivity, and efficiency of cow/calf ranching. The purposes of this research are to find methods to improve pregnancy rate to artificial insemination, the growth and reproductive health of pregnant heifers, and the productivity of their offspring. In the first of four studies we found that extending the period of progesterone administration in an estrus synchronization protocol did not significantly hasten estrus response or increase pregnancy rate to artificial insemination, but timing of estrus within the melengestrol acetate …

Effects Of Blood Flow Restriction During Acute Multi-Joint Eccentric Exercise On Muscle Recovery, Cody Fisher

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise has become an increasingly common modality due to evidence that it may yield positive muscle-related effects from low-intensity exercise. However, eccentric-only exercise in a multi-joint format has not yet been investigated in regard to the BFR influence on muscle recovery characteristics. The purpose of this study was to assess muscle recovery responses via isometric peak force (PF), soreness (i.e., VAS, PPT, PPD), and functional power (i.e., SLHD) following a 5-minute low-load multi-joint eccentric exercise bout with or without blood flow restriction. Thirty participants were randomly assigned into either an eccentric-only (CON) or an eccentric BFR …

Asymmetries In Ncaa Division I Tennis Players Compared To An Athletic Control Group, Elizabeth Cafferty

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Limb asymmetries are an expected adaptation to years of training for athletes participating in dominant-sided sports. Previous research on this topic lacks an athletic control group. PURPOSE: To determine the magnitude of upper limb asymmetries in dominant-sided athletes (tennis players) compared to nondominant-sided athletes (cross-country runners). METHODS: Male and female NCAA Division I athletes (10 tennis, 11 cross-country) participated. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), and lean mass (LM) of the whole body, upper extremities, and forearms. Circumference measurements were taken at mid-biceps and the widest part of the forearms. …

Affective Temperaments And Personality Traits In Couple Well-Being, Carmela Mento, Chiara La Barbiera, Maria Catena Silvestri, Maria Rosaria Anna Muscatello, Clemente Cedro, Antonio Bruno, Gianluca Pandolfo, Fiammetta Iannuzzo, Clara Lombardo

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Background. The objective of this study is to establish the link between affective temperament traits and maladaptive personality traits, to verify whether the potential presence of elements related to emotional, affective and dysfunctional relational functioning can affect the couple satisfaction, modifying the well-being or discomfort condition. Materials and Methods. A data collection questionnaire was developed to investigate the factors associated with dysfunctional emotional, affective, and relational modes of functioning. The sample consisted of 473 subjects. Data were collected including the TEMPS-A questionnaire, The Dirty Dozen Italian Assessment and the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS). Results. The findings of this study showed …

Pathogenesis And Therapeutic Considerations For Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Elijah Chung

Senior Honors Theses

A product of the Westernized, high-fat diet, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as the leading cause of chronic liver disease, affecting one-fourth of the world's population. NAFLD is a progressive disease arising from a multisystem response to excess lipids in the blood, adipose tissue, and liver. Despite the prevalence of NAFLD and its well-studied bidirectional association with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, there is a shocking scarcity of available treatments aside from diet and lifestyle changes. Thus, further research on NAFLD and potential therapies is urgently needed. This paper will illustrate the major pathways associated …

The Effects Of A Guided Mindful Walk On Mental Health In University Students, Ashley V. Burdick, Sarah M. Camhi

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(5): 590-601, 2024. College campuses in the United States are experiencing high levels of mental distress without adequate psychological resources to address the need. In addition, the majority of university students do not meet the physical activity guidelines for mental and physical health. Effective and time efficient resources are needed to address poor mental health and low physical activity among university students on college campuses. Mindful walking may be a promising solution. The purpose was to 1) measure change in mental health and 2) estimate physical activity from participation in a guided mindful walk in …

Comparison Of Self-Reported Physical Activity And Wearable Device-Xiaomi Mi2 Band In Preadolescent School Children-A Pilot Crossesctional Study, Aysha Almas, Shiraz Hashmi, Adil Elahi, Om Parkash, Sania Sabir, Romaina Iqbal

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(7): 565-575, 2024. The purpose of this study is to compare physical activity measured by the wearable device Xiaomi Mi2 Band and self-reported physical activity by YPAQ in preadolescent school children. A pilot cross-sectional study was performed on a subsample (5%=n=60) of preadolescent children within a parallel-group feasibility intervention trial (n=1000). All children aged 9-11 years enrolled in the schools were included in the study and children with any physical disability were excluded. Self-reported physical activity was recorded through the modified version of the Youth Physical Activity Questionnaire (YPAQ) and automatic physical activity was measured …

Effects Of Resistance Training Techniques On Metabolic Responses In Trained Males, Alysson Enes, Ragami Chaves Alves, Vinicius Zen, Danilo Fonseca Leonel, Gustavo Oneda, Luis H. B. Ferreira, Luciano R. Guiraldelli, Roberto Simão, Guillermo Escalante, Anderson Z. Ulbrich, Tácito P. Souza-Junior

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(2): 576-589, 2024. This study investigated the effects of bi-set, drop-set and traditional resistance training (RT) techniques on metabolic responses in resistance-trained males. Fifteen trained males (age 29.7 ± 6.1 years; body mass 83.4 ± 7.6 kg; RT experience 11.4 ± 6.7 years; one-repetition maximum (1RM) barbell bench press: body mass ratio 1.4 ± 0.1 a.u.) were assigned to three experimental conditions, in a randomized crossover design. The experimental conditions were bi-set (3x10 repetitions at 70%1RM in barbell bench press followed by 10 repetitions at 60%1RM in incline bench press), drop-set (3x10 repetitions at …

Physiological Processes During Reading, Elizabeth Morrey, Emma Smith, Catherine Bohn-Gettler, Jennifer Schaefer

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

There are many different variables that can impact reading comprehension, such as reading level, emotional state, and the content of the text itself. For example, if a text contains inconsistencies (e.g., when a key moment in the text does not align with the information presented earlier in the story), processing slows as readers attempt to resolve the inconsistency. However, little is known about the connection between processing inconsistent versus consistent passages and physiological responses in the body. The goal of this study is to examine whether reading narrative texts containing inconsistent and/or consistent information elicits sympathetic nervous system activation, as …

Peak Aerobic Capacity And Dietary Composition Are Associated With The Bioenergetic Profile Of Platelets In Children, Duncan C. Troup

Scholars Day Conference

Atherosclerosis is a disease of the cardiovascular system that is characterized by the buildup of plaque inside arteries over several decades. These plaques have the potential to rupture, causing a clot to form in the vessel. This results in an acute cardiovascular event such as myocardial infarction or stroke. Atherosclerosis remains a significant public health challenge in developed countries, being the foundational cause of roughly 50% of deaths in westernized societies and a major contributor to health costs [13,14]. Understanding this devastating disease and developing preventative measures is a highly important area of research. While the impact of cardiovascular disease …

Cultivating Excellence: A Literature Review On Harnessing The Power Of The Gut Microbiome For Athletic Performance, Maya Katharine Dean

Honors Projects

The interplay between our gut microbiome and health is immense. This literature review analyzes the current research assessing the interplay between gut microbiome and athletic performance. Knowing how to improve gut microbial diversity via nutrition and supplementation can take athletic performance to the next level; namely improvements in immune, mental, and physical health.

The Effectiveness And Perceptions Of Three Moderate Intensity Walking Cadence Aids And Their Effects On Affective States: A Mixed Methods Study, Daniel Brown, Phillip Gray, Julie Doherty, Ellen Ea Simpson

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(5): 531-550, 2024. Substantial health benefits can be derived from walking at a moderate intensity cadence. To help regulate this cadence, three distinct aids exist 1) self-perception; 2) cadence prescription; 3) auditory cues. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness and explore perceptions of these aids to promote moderate intensity walking and effects on affective states, thereby addressing an important research gap. Individualised moderate relative intensity waking cadence was determined for participants (n = 23, M_age = 26.35, SD = 10.11). A convergent mixed-methods design was employed. A within-persons repeated measures design was used …

The Immediate Effects Of Dry Cupping The Lumbar Paraspinals On Range Of Motion And Temperature, Natasha Scavarelli, Paolo Sanzo

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(3): 551-564, 2024. Dry cupping is a therapeutic modality proposed to produce a negative pressure, stretching the skin and underlying tissue. This mechanism is said to promote regional blood flow of oxygenated blood and causing a physiological stretch in the tissue, allowing it to elongate and potentially changing skin temperature. The possible effects of the application to the lumbar spine paraspinal muscles, however, has not been thoroughly examined. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the immediate effects of dry cupping the lumbar paraspinals on lumbar spine range of motion (ROM) and overlying …