Life Sciences Commons^™

Does Joint Angle Affect Composite, Inter-Individual, And Intra-Individual Patterns Of Responses For Men During Fatiguing Isometric Forearm Flexion Tasks Anchored To A High Perceptual Intensity?, Jocelyn E. Arnett, Robert W. Smith, Tyler J. Neltner, John Paul V. Anders, Dolores G. Ortega, Terry J. Housh, Richard J. Schmidt, Glen O. Johnson

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to utilize the Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Clamp Model to examine the effects of joint angle on the composite, inter-, and intra-individual patterns of responses for torque and neuromuscular parameters during fatiguing isometric tasks anchored to RPE of 8 (RPE = 8) at elbow joint angles of 75° (JA75) and 125° (JA125) for men. Methods: Ten men (Mean ± SD: age: 20.7 ± 1.2 yrs; height: 181.6 ± 6.0 cm; body mass: 83.7 ± 14.9 kg) performed 2,3 s forearm flexion maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) with the dominant arm before and …

How Can Generative Ai (Genai) Enhance Or Hinder Qualitative Studies? A Critical Appraisal From South Asia, Nepal, Niroj Dahal

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative researchers can benefit from using generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), such as different versions of ChatGPT—GPT-3.5 or GPT-4, Google Bard—now renamed as a Gemini, and Bing Chat—now renamed as a Copilot, in their studies. The scientific community has used artificial intelligence (AI) tools in various ways. However, using GenAI has generated concerns regarding potential research unreliability, bias, and unethical outcomes in GenAI-generated research results. Considering these concerns, the purpose of this commentary is to review the current use of GenAI in qualitative research, including its strengths, limitations, and ethical dilemmas from the perspective of critical appraisal from South Asia, Nepal. …

The Transmission Of Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Kunjal Patel, Aleesha Thomas

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

The existence of Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OPSCC) has recently been found to have correlations with the Human Papillomavirus. HPV-associated OPSCC exhibits a unique method of infection and transmission and has made this branch an emerging disease in the recent decade. This systematic review of the literature was conducted to further explore research into Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Cancer (OPSCC). Commonly referred to as “throat cancer”, this growth originates in the oropharynx. Symptoms of this condition include sore throat, lumps in the neck, and difficulty with swallowing. OPSCC has many variants but has shown a strong association with Human Papillomavirus (HPV), …

Zika Virus Microcephaly: Predicting The Symptoms Of Microcephaly So Families Can Prepare, Eleanor J. Wind

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Microcephaly is a rare congenital defect where the circumference of an infants head is smaller than average. The cause is unknown and the risk factors and symptoms of microcephaly are wide ranging. One risk factor is exposure during pregnancy to viruses such as the Zika virus.. A recent study was conducted on infants who were born with Zika virus Microcephaly following the Zika outbreak in Brazil. The researchers conducted MRI scans and developmental testing. Then an algorithm to predict behavioral outcomes of Zika Virus Microcephaly was successfully created. This research will benefit caretakers of infants with Zika virus Microcephaly by …

History Of Clover Leaf Syndrome, Isabella Perez

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

The purpose of this paper is to summarize the history of clover leaf syndrome and describe the newest advancements made to treat it. Clover leaf syndrome is more formally referred to as Kleeblattschadel syndrome. Information was gathered from several scholarly, peer-reviewed articles, and was condensed down into the key takeaways. This syndrome impacts the formation of the skull due to premature fusion of its sutures, creating a tri-lobar skull that resembles a clover leaf. This premature fusion is referred to as a type of craniosynostosis and has been linked to causing several other health complications ranging in severity. This is …

Recent Studies In The Surgical Treatment Of Tetralogy Of Fallot, Emma C. Gardner

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

No abstract provided.

Encephaloceles: A Comprehensive Exploration Of Research, Causes, Prevention, And Innovative Approaches To Diagnosis And Treatment, Amanda N. Bautista

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Encephaloceles, a rare medical condition derived from Greek words meaning "brain hernia," involve the protrusion of brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, or membranes through a defect in the skull. These anomalies often present at birth and can occur in various locations on the skull. Recent research has shed light on the possible causes of encephaloceles, including genetic factors such as the Sonic Hedgehog pathway and inadequate folic acid intake during pregnancy. Folic acid is essential for proper neural tube closure during fetal development, making it a key preventive measure.

Emerging treatments for encephaloceles show promise, with a focus on mesenchymal stem …

No “Jitters” But No Energy From A Commercially Available Energy Drink., Jose Antonio, Jason M. Curtis

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an energy drink (JOCKO GO) on mood, sustained attention/reaction time, and hand steadiness.

Methods: A total of 29 active men (n = 9) and women (n=20) (mean ± SD: age 22 ± 5 yr.; height 168±8 cm; body mass 68.2 ± 12.8 kg; lean body mass 51.9 ± 15.0 kg; fat mass 15.4 ± 6.8 kg; percent body fat 22.6 ± 8.9%; total body water 38.6 ± 8.6 liters) completed this randomized, crossover, counterbalanced trial. Each subject consumed either one can (355 ml) of the energy …

Post-Activation Performance Enhancement Through Variable Loading Maintains Power Output Over Five Sets In Highly Trained Athletes, Robert Rocanelli, Morgan Siegel, Pedro Yunes, Pete Bommarito, Monique Mokha

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

The goal was to examine the acute effects of five sets of variable loading (VL) on the post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) response during a live training session in highly trained athletes. PAPE is the phenomenon where acute improvements in power production in light loaded movements occur post near maximal loaded muscle contraction. PAPE may be induced with VL where resistance in the form of chains or bands is added to the bar as it displaces in the concentric phase. Participants were American football players from a variety of field positions (n=12, height =188 ± 0.01 cm, total body mass = …

Proceedings From The Third Annual Society For Neurosports Conference, Neurosports Editorial Staff

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Proceedings from the Third Annual Society for NeuroSports Conference

Pilot Testing Of A Non-Gaming Cognitive Battery In Expert Esports Athletes, Allison J. Brager, Patrick Belling, Jason Sada, Jeffrey Osgood, Bradley Fawver, Michael Dretsch

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Introduction: The esports industry is rapidly expanding, making it imperative to identify common data elements of expert gamers for the purposes of performance optimization and enhancement. We aimed to measure cognitive performance in a convenient sample of expert esports athletes, as well as to determine if cognitive performance of these individuals could be further enhanced through a novel non-gaming neurocognitive test battery.

Methods: Elite esports athletes (n = 5) participated in a four-day cognitive and strength & conditioning program at the Sports Academy (Thousand Oaks, CA). Cognitive performance was assessed through five tasks of increasing cognitive load. Baseline …

Using Neural Signals To Investigate Athlete Burnout, Mathew R. Hammerstrom, Thomas D. Ferguson, Hendrik L. Pepler, Anthony Pluta, Gordon Binsted, Olave Krigolson

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Objective: In the present study, we examined the relationships between athlete burnout, brain function, and self-assessment of performance, and how these relationships can be quantified using mobile electroencephalography (mEEG). Specifically, we performed this study to determine whether mEEG can be utilized as an objective measure of athlete burnout. In addition, we sought to determine whether there was any relationship between athlete burnout and athlete self-assessment of performance while controlling for our neural results.

Methods: We tested these relationships in a sample of high-performance athletes – whereby we had athletes complete an mEEG assessment and also had the athletes complete a …

Examining Movement-Specific Reinvestment And The Yips In Professional Baseball, Lazaro Gutierrez Mba, Ma, Phd, Pradeep R. Vanguri Phd, Lat, Atc

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

The sudden inability of a professional baseball player to throw the baseball accurately, a condition known as the “yips”, is considered a motor movement disruption. Movement-specific reinvestment, including movement self-consciousness (MS-C) and conscious motor processing (CMP), explains the disruption of well-learned motor movements in different performance domains such as throwing. The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study is to examine movement-specific reinvestment level differences between self-reported yips-afflicted and non-afflicted professional baseball players in the United States as measured by the Movement Specific Reinvestment Scale (MSRS). A total of 130 professional baseball players (65 yips-afflicted and 65 non-afflicted) participated in the …

Analysis Of Attitudinal Student Learning Benefits From A Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (Cure) Adapted For Online Format, Ambika Kapil, Luis C. Gonzalez Isoba, Niraj Pathak, Arthur Sikora, Santanu De

FDLA Journal

Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) are an increasingly utilized model for exposing students to research. The lack of robust assessments is a major hurdle to wider adoption of CUREs. The Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic necessitated a drastic shift of in-person courses to the online format. Using the Participant Perception Indicator (PPI) survey, we measured students’ self-reported changes in learning from such a biochemistry course at a large university in south Florida based on the Biochemistry Authentic Scientific Inquiry Lab (BASIL) model. By doing this, we were able to better understand the student-benefits of CUREs and how these benefits …

The Effects Of Joint Angle And Anchoring Scheme On Performance Fatigability And Neuromuscular Responses Following Isometric Forearm Flexion Tasks To Failure, Jocelyn E. Arnett, Robert W. Smith, Tyler J. Neltner, John Paul V. Anders, Dolores G. Ortega, Terry J. Housh, Richard J. Schmidt, Glen O. Johnson

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of joint angle on MVIC and neuromuscular responses at task failure following sustained, isometric forearm flexion tasks anchored to a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) of 8 (RPE = 8) and anchored to the initial torque that corresponded to RPE = 8 (TRQ). Methods: Ten women (age: 21.0 ± 2.8 yrs; height: 168.5 ± 7.2 cm; body mass: 68.0 ± 7.2 kg) performed 2, 3 s MVICs at joint angles (JA) of 75°, 100°, and 125° (randomized order) before and after sustained, isometric forearm flexion tasks to failure at …

Teaching And Learning Interventions Designed To Improve Cultural Competence In Health Profession Students: A Systematic Review, Gloria Nkhoma, Chiao Xin Lim, Gerard A. Kennedy, Ieva Stupans

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Developing healthcare profession students’ cultural competency knowledge, skills and attributes is critical to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse healthcare service consumers. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify effective cultural competence interventions for healthcare profession students. Methods: A systematic review of peer reviewed articles published from 2010-2021 using PRISMA guidelines was conducted by searching CINAHL, EMBASE, ERIC, PubMed, and Psych INFO databases. Article quality was assessed using the Evaluation Tool for Quantitative Research and Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. Results: The initial search identified 2,261 potentially relevant studies, 41 studies met the inclusion criteria in …

A Brief Overview Of Triple A Syndrome, Jamaal Khan

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Triple A Syndrome, also known as AAA Syndrome, is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by any mutation in the AAAS gene on chromosome 12q13, whose main function is to code for the WD-repeat family regulatory protein, ALADIN. It typically occurs as a group of diseases that are characterized by alacrima, Addison's disease, and achalasia. Alacrima can be defined by a decrease in the amount of tears produced while achalasia is nerve damage in the esophagus that can cause difficulty swallowing. Lastly, Addison's disease is the insufficient production of cortisol and aldosterone produced by the adrenal cortex. There is no …

Cervical Muscle Strength And Kinematics During An Unanticipated Perturbation In University Aged Male And Female Rugby Athletes, Abigail Ruppert, Lauren J. Lattimer

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Introduction: Female athletes participating in contact sports demonstrate a concussion injury risk factor that is two times greater than their age-matched male counterparts. Recent literature has outlined the importance of neck muscle strength and neuromuscular characteristics in the mitigation of excessive head kinematics. Rugby is a contact sport in which tackles comprise the mechanism for concussion, which is caused by inertial impacts. Females exhibit higher measurements of acceleration and investigating potential gender differences in dynamic stabilization of the head is warranted in rugby. Methods: Twenty-three (15 female, 8 male) university-aged rugby athletes participated in kinematic analysis; and a series of …

Three-Month Recovery From Common Negative Physical, Functional, And Psychosocial Effects Among Individuals Infected With Covid-19: A Single Observational Group Repeated Measure Study, Hussain I. Aslan, Scotty J. Butcher Phd, Darcy D. Marciniuk Md, Corey R. Tomczak Phd

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Purpose: We examined three-month recovery from common negative effects of COVID-19 infection on select physical, functional, and psychosocial parameters among infected individuals and their implications for rehabilitation programs. Methods: Twenty-one subjects participated in this study. Four standardized questionnaires were used to assess dyspnea, physical, and psychosocial variables in this study. The post-test survey was conducted 90 days following the pre-test survey. Wilcoxon-Signed Rank test and paired t-test were used to compare the variables data between pre- and post-testing time points. Results: Dyspnea scores decreased from (pre: 2 vs post:1, Z=-3.276, p=0.001, r=.50). Work performance scores increased from …

Memory And Attention While Scuba Diving At Shallow And Deep Depths: An Open Water Study, Leanne Boucher, Joshua Feingold, Kelly Concannon, Stephanie Talavera, Jaime Tartar, W. Matthew Collins

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

SCUBA diving requires a high level of cognitive functioning, however, many divers anecdotally report poor memory and attentional skills while underwater. Few studies have documented cognitive deficits resulting from an open-water dive. Here, 23 divers completed both shallow (8 m) and deep (28 m) dives over two days in the open-water. The order of the dives was counterbalanced across participants. While at depth, they completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory to assess anxiety levels, learned and were tested on a list of 36 words, and completed the trail making task (TMT) to assess executive functioning. They also gave saliva samples to …

Obesity As A Risk Factor For Covid-19, Gabriela Hermes, Mir Saleem

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

The coronavirus pandemic has presented a wide range of challenges for healthcare systems in the world. COVID-19 has infected millions of people, with approximately 90% of the population showing mild or no symptoms. The disease has some risk factors that increase its severity, such as obesity, age, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, suppressed immune system, and pulmonary disorders. Obese individuals have higher chances of having symptomatic COVID-19 infection with excessive rates of hospitalization and ICU admission. Understanding the mechanisms defining the link between COVID-19 and obesity is necessary to develop preventive measures and therapeutic interventions for people with obesity. Patients with obesity …

The Effects Of A Multi-Ingredient Supplement On Various Cognitive Measures, Jason M. Curtis, Cassandra Evans, Veronica Mekhail, Paulina Czartoryski, Juan Carlos Santana, Jose Antonio

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a multi-ingredient pre-workout supplement (MIPS) on mental and physical performance. Seventeen exercise-trained men (n = 7) and women (n=10) completed this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, counterbalanced, crossover trial. Participants consumed either a multi-ingredient pre-workout supplement (MIPS) or a placebo in a randomized, counterbalanced order. Forty-five minutes post-consumption, the following assessments were conducted: psychomotor vigilance test (PVT), Profile of Mood States (POMS), Stroop test, vertical jump test, and a Cold pressor test. There was a one-week washout period between assessments. There were significant differences in the incongruent task for the Stroop …

Evaluating The Relationship Between Short- And Long-Term Neural Adaptations To Motor Skill Acquisition And Retention, Federico Iacoangeli

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Attempting to understand the neurophysiological underpinnings of learned behaviors and the process of learning itself has yielded interesting findings relating to what happens in the brain and across the nervous system when learning a new skill. The nervous system displays several structural, functional and neurochemical adaptations to motor learning which have been highlighted through the use of neuroimaging techniques such as fMRI, EEG and TMS. This review attempts to outline the neural adaptations governing the acquisition and retention of motor skills, as well as build a timeline for these adaptations following Fitt’s model of motor learning (Fitts and Posner 1967). …

Trait Anxiety In Mixed Martial Artists, Julian Pino, Olivier Van Hauwermeiren, Jordan Kwamanakweenda, Corey Peacock, Jaime Tartar

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

ABSTRACT

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a hybrid combat sport incorporating techniques from boxing, wrestling, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, Muay Thai (Thai boxing), and other disciplines. Having only been deemed a competitive sport in 1993 by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), not a lot of research has been done on these athletes. Research done so far on other areas of athletics has shown that personality traits can predict various cognitive, affective, and behavioral outcomes. Furthermore, elevated levels of Trait Anxiety have been shown to deteriorate non-MMA athletes’ overall performance in high-pressure situations. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of …

The Adaptation Of Export-Scale Urban Farmers Amid The Covid-19 Pandemic In Bandung Metropolitan, Kinanti Indah Safitri, Oekan Soekotjo Abdoellah, Budhi Gunawan, Parikesit -, Yusep Suparman, Akhmad Zainal Mubarak, Margareth Pardede

The Qualitative Report

These days, urban agriculture is more than a hobby. It has expanded into a local commercial business, even to an export scale. However, urban farmers who have commercialized their products must adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, which has impacted many aspects of global life. This research used a mixed-method approach. We collected quantitative data from 107 respondents on the household commercialization index, income level, and education level of export-scale-urban farmers in the Bandung metropolitan area, West Java, Indonesia. We also used qualitative data to determine how farmers were adapting to difficult situations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This information …

Market Pressure Based On International Food Standards In Export-Scale Urban Farming: Political Ecology Perspective, Kinanti Indah Safitri, Oekan Soekotjo Abdoellah, Budhi Gunawan, Yusep Suparman, Parikesit Parikesit

The Qualitative Report

Urban farming has been transformed into urban agricultural activities oriented towards optimizing economic benefits through export market involvement. However, the expansion of the market has consequences for farmers. The involvement of urban farmers in export trade causes market pressures that affect agricultural production practices. This research used qualitative research methods. There were 27 informants in this study. Researchers collected data to determine market pressures faced by export-scale urban farmers in Bandung Metropolitan. Data collection techniques used in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. The results showed that the market had put pressure on export-scale urban farmers in Bandung Metropolitan to meet international …

Case Study: Degenerative Joint Disease In Canines, Zachary B. Lawrence, Rusty Rogers, Emily Schmitt Lavin

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Degenerative joint disease (DJD) is the gradual degeneration of cartilage in joints, resulting in pain for the affected areas. This study focused on Lacy (name changed for privacy), a 10-year-old spayed female chihuahua mix, that was clinically diagnosed for DJD and treated by Dr. Rogers over a period of 15 months. DJD is typically treated through a combination of pharmacological management, nonpharmacological treatment, and changes in lifestyle. Pharmacological treatment utilized pain medications, such as Gabapentin and Tramadol. Nonpharmacological treatment and changes in lifestyle involve methods, such as maintaining an ideal body weight, to decrease pain and increase mobility. However, during …

Perceptual Fatigability And Neuromuscular Responses During A Sustained, Isometric Forearm Flexion Muscle Action Anchored To A Constant Level Of Perceived Exertion, Robert W. Smith, John Paul V. Anders, Tyler J. Neltner, Jocelyn E. Arnett, Joshua L. Keller, Terry J. Housh, Richard J. Schmidt, Glen O. Johnson

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine the fatigue-induced changes in torque, and the electromyographic (EMG) and mechanomyographic (MMG) responses during a sustained submaximal, isometric forearm flexion muscle action anchored to a constant rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Methods: Eleven women (mean ± SD: age = 20.5 ± 1.9 yrs.; height = 169.9 ± 6.6 cm; body mass = 73.2 ± 15.9 kg) performed 2, 3s forearm flexion maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) before a sustained isometric muscle action anchored to RPE = 7 until task failure (defined as torque that would require RPE > 7, or the …

Assessing A Novel Adaptation To Cci Devices To Model Human Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, William R. Kochen, Kristen Craven, Rachel E. Barkey, Jane M. Flinn, David D. Cerri

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Background: Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) are a health crisis with over a million people suffering injuries each year in the United States. The majority of TBIs are mild injuries which often produce no period of unconsciousness and no gross damage to the brain or skull. A range of TBI animal models exist but many produce injuries too severe to characterize as mild. One TBI induction method commonly used is Controlled Cortical Impact (CCI) devices.

New Method: The purpose of this study is to assess a novel adaptation to CCI devices that allows for the induction of mild injuries that …

The Impact Of #365papers: A Daily Scientific Twitter Campaign To Disseminate Exercise Oncology Literature, Kendra Zadravec, Sarah Weller, Logan Meyers, Kirstin Lane, Jeffrey Kong, Kristin L. Campbell

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Many health researchers and practitioners use Twitter to stimulate scientific dialogue and collaboration among peers, as well as the general public. In 2018, the Clinical Exercise Physiology Lab (CEPL) undertook a year-long scientific Twitter campaign (#365Papers) where one peer-reviewed publication related to cancer and exercise/physical activity was tweeted per day. Features of this campaign included Throwback Thursdays (selected article published before 2018) and guest tweeters (article chosen by other exercise oncology researchers). We report on the impact of the #365Papers campaign based on Twitter Analytics data (i.e., engagement rate). We also explore how engagement rate differed depending on publication …