Life Sciences Commons^™

Causes And Consequences Of The Risk Of Generalizability Biases In Health Behavioral Interventions, Lauren Von Klinggraeff

Theses and Dissertations

Preliminary testing of health behavior interventions (e.g., pilot, feasibility studies) are used to evaluate intervention viability prior to additional testing and resource investment (e.g., larger trials). This initial testing provides valuable information, but promising estimates of effectiveness produced during early testing are rarely reproduced in larger studies, stalling the development of effective, scalable health interventions. In the obesity intervention literature, external validity biases, features of the intervention that are not (or cannot) transfer to the larger study, are associated with these diminished effects. These study features, such who delivers the intervention, the characteristics of the population receiving the intervention or …

The Role Of Environmental Context In Supporting Children’S 24- Hour Movement Behaviors; A Positive Deviance Perspective, Roddrick Dugger

Theses and Dissertations

Background: During summer, children display less favorable movement behaviors than the school year. To investigate the role of environmental context in supporting children’s ability to meet the 24-hour Movement Guidelines (i.e., Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity: ≥ 60 minutes, Sleep duration: 9-11 hours, Screen Time: ≤ 2 hours), this dissertation had three primary aims: 1) Utilize the Positive Deviance Framework to identify unique practices and resources that enabled children to meet guidelines, 2) Examine potential associations between the neighborhood built and social environment with movement behaviors by household poverty experience, and 3) Identify specific features of the family and home environment that …

Predictors Of Driving Performance Post-Stroke, Halle Elise Prine

Theses and Dissertations

Driving is a complex skill involving the interaction of various brain functions, making it challenging to determine the independent contributions of each process to driving proficiency. While past studies have identified assessments such as the Useful Field of View Test (UFOV) and the Trial Making Test (TMT) as strong predictors for driving skills, little research has explored the impact of visual search and movement inhibition on driving after stroke. This cross-sectional study includes participants between the ages of 21 to 80 years with residual disability caused by a unilateral middle cerebral artery stroke at least six months prior. The participants …

Mechanisms Of Social Stress Susceptibility And Resilience In Female Rats, Brittany Sara Pate

Theses and Dissertations

Social stress is the most common form of stress humans experience and often precipitates the onset of several comorbidities, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and cardiovascular diseases. While many individuals experience social stress and can respond, cope, and recover, some individuals are more likely to develop subsequent health conditions. Importantly, women are particularly susceptible to stress-related disorders, and the prevalence rates for these comorbid conditions are 2-3-fold higher among females compared to males. Epidemiological data suggest that cycling ovarian hormones may play a role in promoting stress susceptibility in females. Therefore, the current studies aimed to examine the effects …

Effects Of Caffeine On Measures Of Clinical Outcome And Recovery Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury In Adolescents, Jacob Michael Eade

Theses and Dissertations

OBJECTIVE: The overarching purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of habitual caffeine consumption on mTBI outcomes in adolescents. BACKGROUND: Adolescents who suffer an mTBI have an increased risk for neurological impairment and symptomology. Thus, it is important to elucidate modifiable lifestyle factors that have the potential to influence injury outcomes and recovery. Caffeine is a legal psychoactive compound prevalent among the adolescent population. Marketed as an ergogenic aid caffeine coincides with recreational activities where incidence of mTBI is high. However, no human study has explored the influence of caffeine consumption on mTBI pathology. It was hypothesized that …

Effect Of Action Selection Demands On The Execution Of Goal-Directed Reaches, James Garrison Riedy

Theses and Dissertations

A well-studied model of cognitive motor function is the process of action selection. It is unclear how the planning demands of a reaching movement interact with the added complexity of s election. Therefore, this thesis investigated the effect of adding selection demands to the performance of skilled reaches in a virtual environment. Thirty young, healthy participants reached ipsilaterally or contralaterally with either their dominant (right hand) or non-dominant (left hand) under two conditions: execute only (EO) and action selection (AS). Selection accuracy was higher for the EO condition than the AS condition for both arms and both directions (left arm: …

A Randomized, Placebo Controlled, Double-Blind, Crossover Study To Evaluate The Effects Of Two Novel Hydration Beverage Formulas On Rehydration In Healthy Adults, Nathaniel David Rhoades

Theses and Dissertations

Intro: Dehydration is common in athletes and can lead to reductions in cognitive and physical performance. While there are many commercially available hydration beverages, most contain high amounts of CHO and are marketed as functional beverages. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of two novel hydration beverage formulas (HMAA, HM) on hydration, cognitive performance, and time to exhaustion (TTE). Methods: Sixteen subjects (n=8 women, n=8 men) completed three experimental days where they consumed one of three conditions (HMAA, HM, or placebo) assigned randomly. The experimental protocol was completed in a heat chamber at 30-32℃ and 45-50% …

Exercise And Mental Health Over The Course Of A Semester, Jamie Alexis Whitney

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction and purpose: Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health struggles in the United States each year. There has been promising research noting the positive effects of exercise on lowering symptoms of both anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent on college campuses, especially during high stress portions of the semester. The purpose of this study was to observe the changes in mental health over the course of the semester and if exercise level mediated any of these changes in the university population. Methods: Participants scanned a QR code or followed a link to …

An Examination Of Inter-Limb Functional Asymmetry After A Fatiguing Bout Of Exercise In High Level Soccer Players, Nestor Urrea

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Inter-limb functional asymmetries greater than 15% have been linked to a greater incidence of injury. Moreover, asymmetries greater than 10% have shown greater risk of injury and worsened sport performance, especially for strength and power capabilities, in athletes of multiple sports. Fatigue and sex are factors that seem to influence injury rates as well as greater asymmetries between limbs. This research project aims to investigate the effects of a fatiguing bout of exercise in strength and power inter-limb functional asymmetries in male and female soccer players. It was hypothesized that strength and power asymmetries are negatively affected after a …

Sports Nutrition- And Strength And Conditioning-Based Interventions To Bolster Health And Human Performance In Male And Female Tactical Personnel, Harry Paul Cintineo

Theses and Dissertations

Military and law enforcement personnel are required to possess sufficient physical and cognitive fitness to perform their official duties. Tactical athletes must have fast reaction times (RT), high levels of various aspects of muscular performance, including power, strength, and endurance, as well as high anaerobic and aerobic capacities. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate acute sports nutrition and chronic strength and conditioning strategies to improve health and human performance in tactical athletes, including law enforcement officers, active-duty military service members, and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets and midshipmen.

The first study tested the effects of a combination …

Physical Activity And Stress Between American Students And Asian International Students At The University Of South Carolina, Hao Lei

Theses and Dissertations

Many college students are physically inactive and have high levels of stress, and this may be worse among increasing number of international students studying in the US. This study investigated the relationship between physical activity and stress among American students (n=92) and Asian international students (n=64). The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare MET minutes/week from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form between those two groups. The independent-samples t test compared the mean of stress from the Perceived Stress Scale between those two groups. Chi-square test was used to compare the percentage of Asian international students and American students …

Impact Of A Novel Marine Algae Supplement On Inflammatory And Immune Response After High-Intensity Exercise, Caroline Sara Vincenty

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: High-intensity exercise (HIE) can damage the musculotendon complex and impact the immune response, which may result in post-exercise inflammation and reductions in strength and performance. Sufficient rest and recovery will improve muscular resilience against future damaging bouts, however HIE with minimal durations of rest are common in athletic competitions that facilitate persistent inflammation and immune dysregulation. Marine algae-derived fucoidans (MA) have previously shown promise to mitigate pro-inflammatory and immune dysregulation responses, however it has not been investigated in the context of HIE. The purpose of this research is to investigate the safety and efficacy of MA on markers of …

Using A Multi-Direction Reaching Approach To Investigate Fitts’ Law And The Effect Of Attentional Focus On Motor Learning, Charles R. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The Index of Difficulty value (ID) derived from Fitts’ Law’s speed-accuracy trade-off is commonly used to determine the difficulty of a targeted reaching movement and balance difficulty in sequence learning tasks. However, this value does not account for the mechanical difficulty of multi-directional movements which could affect both performance and learning. Where we direct our focus when completing a task/skill can also have an effect on how we perform and learn that task, however, the manner in which differing focus instructions affect learning a whole-arm reaching task is relatively unknown. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine 1) how …

Relationships Among Sleep, Physical Activity, And Weight Status In Children And Adolescents, Agnes Bucko

Theses and Dissertations

Sleep and physical activity are both associated with multiple behavioral and metabolic health outcomes, and both behaviors have been linked to the development of weight status. Recent estimates suggest that many children are not meeting sleep recommendations or participating in adequate levels of physical activity, which may be related to the high prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity. Much of the research assessing these relationships has focused on adults and older children, and has relied on parent- or child-reported, cross-sectional research in predominantly White samples. Little work has focused on these relationships in very young children. Although more research has …

Effects Of Positive Social Comparative Feedback During Practice On Motor Sequence Learning, Performance Expectancies, And Resting State Connectivity, Allison Foster Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

Positive social comparative feedback indicates to the learner that they are performing better than others. While this type feedback supports motor skill learning in some tasks, the effect of social comparative feedback on motor sequence learning remains unknown. In addition, the OPTIMAL theory predicts that positive social comparative feedback may trigger a dopaminergic response in the brain. However, no studies have utilized neuroimaging techniques to investigate this question. Therefore, the aim of these studies was to determine the effect of positive social comparative feedback on motor sequence learning, performance expectancies, and resting state connectivity of dopaminergic neural pathways.

In the …

The Effects Of Exercise Training On Cholesterol Efflux Capacity In The Heritage Family Study, Joshua Adam Hawkins

Theses and Dissertations

Cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) has been associated with cardiovascular disease risk independent of HDL-C levels. However, the effect of regular exercise on CEC is not yet fully understood. Therefore, we examined the effects of exercise training on CEC in the HERITAGE Family Study. In HERITAGE, subjects participated in an endurance training program that consisted of exercise on a cycle ergometer three times per week for 20 weeks. Global and non-ABCA1 CEC were measured at baseline and post-training in 542 subjects via a cell- based radiolabeled CEC assay. Neither global nor non-ABCA1 CEC significantly changed with training in the whole cohort. …

Psychophysiological Biomarkers Of Concussion Recovery, Adam Todd Harrison

Theses and Dissertations

Each ach year a growing number of individuals report lingering deficits months-years following concussion. Persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) can negatively impact day-today activities and if left untreated may manifest in severe neurological sequelae resulting in long-term cognitive impairment or advanced neurological degeneration (i.e., CTE). Current clinical diagnostic and prognostic assessments (e.g., symptom reports and neurocognitive testing) lack the sensitivity to quantify neurological function. Accordingly, there is a critical need to identify objective biomarkers specific to PPCS to improve an individual’s quality of life and prevent severe long-term neurological dysfunction.

Psychophysiological measurements (e.g., EEG derived event-related potentials, heart rate variability, and …

Molecular Architecture Of Cardiometabolic Responses To Regular Exercise, Jacob L. Barber

Theses and Dissertations

Background: To investigate the molecular mechanisms, determinants, and predictors of cardiometabolic responses to regular exercise, this dissertation had two primary aims: 1) Examine the molecular architecture of cardiometabolic responses to exercise training (unsupervised approach) and 2) Identify molecular signatures of responsiveness to regular exercise within clinically relevant lipoprotein traits (supervised approach).

Methodology: Multi-omics data (17,945 muscle transcripts, 4,979 proteins, 411 metabolites) from participants (n=647) who completed 20 weeks of endurance training as part of the HERITAGE Family Study was collected before and after training. We employed an unsupervised machine learning approach (Aim 1) to identify patterns of molecular responses to …

Self Reported Cardiovascular Health And Health Behaviors In Women Veterans, Seth Byland

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study is to describe self-reported cardiovascular health (CVH) and health behaviors in women veterans (WV). A cardiovascular score will be adapted from the existing American Heart Association CVH score. This score will be used to describe CVH in WV.

Methods: Data was collected from WV using an anonymous online survey. This survey asked questions about CVH, CVH behavior, and military specific questions. CVH scoring was determined by asking 6 questions that scored individuals for a total score from 0 to 12, with 12 being most ideal for CVH health. Scores were tallied and mean scores …

Racial Disparities In Gestational Weight Gain, Body Mass Index, And Physical Activity During Pregnancy And After Delivery, Marcey Acacia Jiles

Theses and Dissertations

Background & Purpose: African American women have higher rates of obesity than white women. Pregnancy is characterized by rapid weight gain, and 48.8% of women in South Carolina exceed recommended limits. Prenatal exercise is recommended and may help prevent excessive gestational weight gain (GWG). Our purpose was to determine whether GWG and prenatal exercise levels differed between African American and Caucasian women.

Methods: We included 79 women who delivered a singleton infant 6 months - 3 years ago and were free from smoking, type 1 or 2 diabetes, or use of steroids or protease inhibitors (mean age =31.3 yrs; mean …

Clinical Determinants Of Vo2 Max Response To Endurance Training: Heritage Family Study, Emanuel Ayala

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Maximal oxygen uptake trainability (U+0394VO₂max) is largely determined by non-modifiable traits. However, less is known of the contribution of modifiable phenotypes to VO₂max response to endurance training. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between baseline cardiopulmonary, metabolic, and body composition traits and U+0394VO₂max.

Methods: Subjects were 717 healthy, physically inactive adults (44% female, 34% Black) who completed a 20-week, highly standardized, endurance training program as part of the HERITAGE Family Study. Resting and exercise phenotypes were collected at baseline and post-training. A total of 33 variables related to cardiopulmonary, …

The Influence Of Adhd On Concussion In Ncaa College Athletes, Brett Steven Gunn

Theses and Dissertations

Evidence suggests attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be associated with an increased incidence of concussion; however, no study has cross-sectionally (Aim 1) and longitudinally (Aim 2) assessed the associations of ADHD with concussion. Additionally, there is reason to expect cognitive alterations following concussion in athletes with ADHD. Further, there is currently no study that has evaluated the influence of common medications often taken to mitigate some symptoms of ADHD, such as methylphenidate and amphetamines. Therefore, we sought to longitudinally assess cognitive profiles (Aim 3) of athletes with ADHD taking medication (ADHD+Rx) and not taking medication (ADHD_uRx) at baseline, 24-48 hours …

Physical Activity And Sedentary Behavior During And After Pregnancy And Postpartum Weight Retention, Kaitlyn Taylor Ramey

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE

Pregnancy is associated with increased changes in body weight that can shape long-term health in women. Previous studies have shown that increased prenatal physical activity and decreased sedentary time correlated with less excessive gestational weight gain. Little is known about how leisure time exercise and sedentary behavior affects postpartum weight retention. The aim of our study was to identify how sedentary behavior and leisure time physical activity, both mid-pregnancy and after pregnancy, relate to postpartum weight retention from 6 months to 3 years after childbirth.

METHODS

A total of 79 women who delivered a singleton infant 6-months …

The Relationship Of Structured Environments With Children’S Body Composition And Obesogenic Behaviors, Ethan T. Hunt

Theses and Dissertations

Recent nationally representative data show among children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years, the prevalence of obesity is 17.0% (95CI= 15.5%-18.6%). Further, rates of obesity are disproportionately high among minoritized youth. The prevalence of children and adolescents with obesity is lower among White children compared to Black children (14.7% vs. 19.5%) or Hispanic children (14.7% vs. 21.9%). Disparities by socioeconomic status exist as well. Prevalence of children with obesity from households with an income that is >350% of the federal poverty threshold (after accounting for household size) is significantly less compared to children from households with an income that …

Strengthening The Evidence-Base Of Youth Nutrition Programs: A Three Part Approach, Rebecca Kyryliuk

Theses and Dissertations

National dietary guidelines recommend that children’s diets consist of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, while limiting high-fat foods. Studies indicate, however, that children consume an abundance of sugar-sweetened, calorically dense foods and are lacking in fruit and vegetables, behaviors which significantly contribute to high rates of childhood obesity and subsequent, lifelong, detrimental health impacts. This dissertation provides new knowledge to strengthen the evidence-base and inform future best practices in youth nutrition programming so that more children will have the opportunity to meet national dietary recommendations. Three distinct investigations sought to 1) examine current and past youth dietary intake by comparing …

Performance Of The Wrist-Worn Actigraph Gt3x + In Measuring Physical Activity In Older Women, Michal Talley Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Being able to accurately measure physical activity intensity and energy expenditure is crucial to understanding the role physical activity plays in lowering the risk for disease. This thesis aims to examine the performance of the wrist-worn GT3X+ in measuring PAEE and classifying activity intensity in a healthy non-obese population of older women. Methods: Baseline data collected in the Women’s Energy Expenditure in Walking Programs Study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01722136) were used. PAEE was measured concurrently for 2 weeks using the doubly labeled water method in combination with indirect calorimetry, the GT3X+ ActiGraph accelerometer (GT3X+, ActiGraph LLC, Pensacola, FL), and the …

Multiple Processes Predict Motor Learning And Impairments After A Stroke, Christopher Michael Perry

Theses and Dissertations

Acquiring, refining, and adapting motor skills allows for successful interaction with our environment to perform daily activities such as driving, cooking, and self-care. Those with stroke often exhibit a compromised ability to relearn motor skills affected by their stroke resulting in chronic disability. Previous rehabilitation studies suggest that deficits in skilled limb movement primarily contributes to deficits after a stroke. However, studies in motor skill performance suggests that multiple behavioral features including visual search, eye-hand coordination and visuomotor decisions also contribute to improved performance. Currently, it is not known if refinements in multiple behavioral features independently contribute to motor learning, …

The Influence Of Sport Participation On Physical Activity In Youth, Emily R. Shull

Theses and Dissertations

Youth sport participation has been widely supported as a strategy for promoting physical activity in children and youth. Previous research has identified positive associations between youth sport participation and children’s physical activity levels. However, there is a paucity of research regarding characteristics of youth sport that may affect the amount and intensity of physical activity youth attain during sport participation. This dissertation is comprised of three studies, and the overall purpose is to examine how characteristics of youth sport associate with children’s physical activity. In the first study, the relationship between types of sport participation and objectively measured physical activity …

Effects Of Basketball Exercise Simulation Test (Best) On Landing Mechanics In Active Females, Madison Treece

Theses and Dissertations

Intro: In the United States, female basketball players have the second highest rate of ACL injury, following female soccer players. This injury rate is four times higher than their male counterparts. These injuries occur more frequently at the end of the first and second halves and may be associated with exercise-induced fatigue causing knee instability. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effects of a basketball simulation test on landing mechanics. Methods: Six subjects completed both the intervention and the control trial consisting of four 10-min quarter game simulations of the validated Basketball Exercise Simulation …

Examination Of Energy Needs And Female Athlete Triad Components In Competitive Cheerleaders, Allison Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The sport of cheerleading has grown immensely over the recent decades. The current sport requires full body athletic abilities like gymnastics, ballet, and swimming and diving. These sports have previously reported high rates of eating disorder (ED) risk, body image dissatisfaction, and Female Athlete Triad (Triad) components (low energy availability with or without and eating disorder, menstrual cycle dysfunction, and low bone mineral density). Scientific research examining these factors within cheerleaders has been limited. The purpose of this study was to examine overall ED risk across cheerleading team type (All-Star, college), squad type (all-girl, coed), and by position (flyer, base, …