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A Comparison Of Lung Function Values Among A Scuba Diver Population And In Comparison To A Non-Diver Population, Gabriel C. Hutson, Jeremy D. Rentsch, Erin M. Eaton

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible correlations between lung function values (PEF, IRV, ERV, and FVC) among a diver population, as well as in comparison to a non-diver population. Independent variables for both populations were biological sex, age, and weekly physical activity. Independent variables for the diver population were dive tenure, number of logged dives, certification level, and gas mixture used. A spirometry test was conducted to collect lung function values of both populations. Data from this study suggest a statistically significant relationship between diver and non-diver sex and FVC, diver age and ERV, diver sex and …

Measures Of Fluid Loss During Surfing: A Preliminary Analysis In Recreational Surfers, Rudi A. Meir, Zachary James Crowley-Mchattan Dr, Lyndon O. Brooks, Blake Duncan, Christian Gorrie, Jeremy Sheppard

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Surfing is a popular sport, but little is known about the extent to which recreational surfers experience fluid loss from this activity. The principal objective of this research was to estimate fluid loss during a surfing session through changes in pre- to post-session urine color (Ucol), urine osmolality (Uosm), and body mass (BM). Data were collected from 11 recreational surfers across 14 surf sessions conducted under various environmental (mean water temperature = 22.1 SD ± 2.3; range = 20-26^oC; air temperature range = 13.1-31.5^oC; relative humidity range = 37.5-88.1%) and surfing conditions (e.g. winter/summer, wave type, …

Effects Of Life-Long Wheel Running Behavior On Plantar Flexor Contractile Properties, Alexander Nicholas Beechko

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Aging in skeletal muscle is characterized by a loss in muscular performance. This is in part related to the direct loss of muscle mass due to senescence, known as sarcopenia. With age, skeletal muscles lose force production, contractile speed, and power production. The force velocity relationship of muscle is a product of force production and contraction speed, both of which decline with age; however, the mechanisms and trajectory of this decline are not well understood. Exercise has positive effects on muscle, and thus may assist in maintaining performance in old age. However, few long-term studies have been performed to examine …

Measurement Of Strength Gains Using A Fascial System Exercise Program, Michele M. Bond, Richard Lloyd, Robyn A. Braun, James A. Eldridge

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(1): 825-838, 2019. Current fascia research is allowing for an interdisciplinary understanding of the body’s anatomical, biomechanical, and neurological connectivity via the fascial network. Fascial research and its application has been validated and established in various clinical areas of research. The purpose of this study was to apply the current knowledge of the fascial system to general exercise protocols. This study involved 20 women, ages 30-60 years, who were novice weight trainers, mostly sedentary, and with no injuries, excessive pain or disease. The 10-week study compared strength gain changes between a strength training regimen control …

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors And Physical Fitness In Volunteer Firefighters, Zachary T. Martin, Rebecca A. Schlaff, Jade K. Hemenway, Jillian R. Coulter, Jeremy L. Knous, John E. Lowry, Joshua J. Ode

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(2): 764-776, 2019. Forty-seven percent of volunteer firefighter line of duty deaths are caused by cardiovascular events. Aggressive cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor reduction and improved physical fitness could reduce CVD mortality within this population. We assessed CVD risk factors and physical fitness in a large cohort of volunteer firefighters to help establish a health and fitness profile of this population, which may serve as evidence for the need to initiate programs aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality caused by CVD in the volunteer fire service. Seventy-four male volunteer firefighters were assessed for eight CVD …

A Critical Evaluation Of The Biological Construct Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy: Size Matters But So Does The Measurement, Cody T. Haun, Christopher G. Vann, Brandon M. Roberts, Andrew D. Vigotsky, Brad J. Schoenfeld, Michael D. Roberts

Publications and Research

Skeletal muscle is highly adaptable and has consistently been shown to morphologically respond to exercise training. Skeletal muscle growth during periods of resistance training has traditionally been referred to as skeletal muscle hypertrophy, and this manifests as increases in muscle mass, muscle thickness, muscle area, muscle volume, and muscle fiber cross-sectional area (fCSA). Delicate electron microscopy and biochemical techniques have also been used to demonstrate that resistance exercise promotes ultrastructural adaptations within muscle fibers. Decades of research in this area of exercise physiology have promulgated a widespread hypothetical model of training-induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy; specifically, fCSA increases are accompanied by …

Cardiorespiratory Responses To Shallow Water Exercise: A Sex Comparison, Mitchell Garant Fisher, Laura Jean Miller, Jerusalem Tesfaye, Karen Roemer, Debra Mary D'Acquisto, Leo Joseph D'Acquisto

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

This investigation examined physiological responses to shallow water exercise (SWE) and to a high-intensity interval SWE workout (HIISWE) in males (M, n=9) and females (F, n=9). Participants performed 5 X 5 min. SWE bouts (bts.) at ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 (Borg scale) and a maximal bout of SWE with metabolic, heart rate (HR), and blood lactate (BLa) responses monitored. The same measurements were performed during HIISWE (4 X 4-min bts., alternating 20-s “all-out” and 10-s rest). Peak oxygen uptake (V̇O₂) and BLa were greater in M (3.6 ± 0.4 vs. 2.7 …

Beyond Peak, A Simple Approach To Assess Rowing Power And The Impact Of Training: A Technical Report, Julian D. Egan-Shuttler, Rohan Edmonds, Cassandra Eddy, Veronica O’Neill, Stephen Ives

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(6): 233-244, 2019. Recently, rowing power has been shown to be a key determinant of rowing performance. However, rowing power testing can vary greatly, and is not standardized. Here we sought to evaluate rowing power over a 15 sec rowing test utilizing a stroke-by-stroke analysis before and after 4 weeks of training in youth rowers. Methods: 18 adolescent male rowers were assigned to complete either 4 weeks of plyometric training (PLYO, n=9), or steady state cycling (Control, n=9), for 30 minutes before on water training three days/week. Each group was matched for training volume. Peak …

Reliability Of The Polar T31 Uncoded Heart Rate Monitor In Free Motion And Treadmill Activities, Jeffrey Montes, James W. Navalta

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(4): 69-76, 2019. The Polar T31 uncoded heart rate monitor (T31) is currently accepted as a precision measurement device that can be used in lieu of electrocardiography. However, minimal literature exists to verify reliability when used for this purpose. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the reliability of heart rate (HR) measurements obtained from the T31. Forty volunteers participated in a three-day test-retest protocol. Participants gave anthropometric data on the first day. On the second day, they performed two 5-minute self-paced free motion walks (FMW) and two 5-minute self-paced free motion jogs (FMJ). …

A Hybrid Cognitive Architecture With Primal Affect And Physiology, Christopher L. Dancy

Faculty Journal Articles

Though computational cognitive architectures have been used to study several processes associated with human behavior, the study of integration of affect and emotion in these processes has been relatively sparse. Theory from affective science and affective neuroscience can be used to systematically integrate affect into cognitive architectures, particularly in areas where cognitive system behavior is known to be associated with physiological structure and behavior. I introduce a unified theory and model of human behavior that integrates physiology and primal affect with cognitive processes in a cognitive architecture. This new architecture gives a more tractable, mechanistic way to simulate affect-cognition interactions …

Exercise Preconditioning And Tfam Overexpression Diminish Skeletal Muscle Atrophy., Nicholas Todd Theilen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an analysis of skeletal muscle atrophy and a molecular assessment of potential preventative treatments. Chapter I begins with a background of skeletal muscle atrophy along with an analysis of associated molecular pathways. Here, we discuss how skeletal muscle atrophy is the consequence of protein degradation exceeding protein synthesis and can occur when a muscle is abnormally disused. The development of therapies prior to skeletal muscle atrophy settings to diminish protein degradation is scarce and could be useful to prevent negative clinical outcomes of patients who must unload and disuse musculature over extended periods. Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated …

Determining The Effects Of Quercetin On Cadmium Toxicity In Kidney Cells, Elizabeth Dugan

Undergraduate Theses

Cadmium is a heavy transition metal that causes kidney disease via prolonged, low-level exposure due to circulating metallothioneins. These proteins transport cadmium ions to the proximal convoluted tubule, where they induce the creation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidative damage from ROS can lead to kidney dysfunction and eventually failure. Previous studies have shown that antioxidants, including quercetin, which is found in most fruits and vegetables, can lessen cadmium-induced toxicity. In this study, human embryonic kidney cells were pretreated for one hour with varying concentrations of quercetin ranging from 10 - 100 μM. This was followed by 24-hour treatment with …

Human Optimization And Performance Enhancement In Flight Via Real-Time Biofeedback (Project Have Hope), Michael S. Fritts

Theses and Dissertations

A four-phase, chronological, and build-up approach was implemented that commenced with basic hardware testing in a centrifuge and culminated in flights augmented by real-time biofeedback displays. A prototype Portable Electrocardiogram Unit (PECGU) was designed and proven to accurately measure heart rate (HR) and display percent heart rate reserve (%HRR). Results showed that %HRR was not a sole predictor of cognitive state. Cognitive responses indicated some correlation with %HRR, but were influenced by environment (centrifuge vs. flight). Subjective perceived exertion levels did not show statistically significant changes during test with biofeedback. A G-tracking task was evaluated during centrifuge and flight tests. …

An Individualized, Perception-Based Protocol To Investigate Human Physiological Responses To Cooling, Crystal L. Coolbaugh, Emily C. Bush, Elizabeth S. Galenti, E Brian Welch, Theodore F. Towse

Peer Reviewed Articles

Cold exposure, a known stimulant of the thermogenic effects of brown adipose tissue (BAT), is the most widely used method to study BAT physiology in adult humans. Recently, individualized cooling has been recommended to standardize the physiological cold stress applied across participants, but critical experimental details remain unclear. The purpose of this work was to develop a detailed methodology for an individualized, perception-based protocol to investigate human physiological responses to cooling. Participants were wrapped in two water-circulating blankets and fitted with skin temperature probes to estimate BAT activity and peripheral vasoconstriction. We created a thermoesthesia graphical user interface (tGUI) to …

Brief, High-Intensity Interval Exercise Improves Selective Attention In University Students, Jeremy J. Walsh, Charlotte Dunlap, Jonathan Miranda, David B. Thorp, Derek S. Kimmerly, Michael Tschakovsky, B J. Gurd

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(5): 152-167, 2018. This study aimed to investigate the effect of very brief, high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) on selective attention in university students. As a follow-up, we investigated whether HIIE performed prior to a university lecture improves retention of lecture material. A single-group counterbalanced post-test only design was used for this study. 22 university students (19 females; age = 20.0 ±1.0 years) performed a HIIE and control visit on separate days. During the HIIE session, participants performed 4 separate body-weight exercises for 1 set each, consisting of eight 20 s intervals interspersed with 10 s …

Psychophysiology Meets Computer Science: Predicting The Magnitude Of Participant Physiological Response With Machine Learning, Avonie Parchment

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present inquiry uses methods from psychophysiology and machine learning to reduce overall error in classification models. The field of psychophysiology, though rooted in decades of experimentation, has never reached the same level of precision as some aspects of medical inquiry. In fact, while some medical regression models, when determining some way to classify a patient's illness based on certain symptoms, can result in highly significant results with large effect sizes, equal levels are virtually unheard of in psychophysiology. The present investigation attempts to unravel some part of this mystery and determines some possible reasons for the difficulty in finding …

Acute Cardiovascular Responses To Novel Combinations Of Resistance And Aerobic Exercise, Travis Wakeham

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally. One of the most effective forms of prevention and treatment is physical activity. However, recent studies have suggested that resistance exercise can increase arterial stiffness. Maintaining adequate strength is critical for performing activities of daily living, occupational-related tasks, and sport movements. The purpose of this project was to determine if novel combinations of resistance and aerobic exercise could offer musculoskeletal benefits without adverse cardiovascular consequences. In Study 1, we examined the effect of order (i.e. aerobic before resistance, or resistance before aerobic) on arterial stiffness when combining these exercise …

Physiological Responses In Reindeer To The Application Of A Conducted Electrical Weapon, Camilla L. Lieske, Kimberlee B. Beckmen, Larry L. Lewis

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Conducted Electrical Weapons (CEWs) have potential as effective alternatives to chemical restraint for short-term non-routine capture and handling as well as aversion hazing of wildlife. To assess immediate and delayed physiologic effects of exposure to a CEW, we assigned 15 captive reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) to one of three treatment groups: immobilized with carfentanil and xylazine (CX), 10 second exposure to a CEW, or exposure to the CEW while immobilized with CX (CEW+CX). Blood samples were collected pre-treatment, immediately post-intervention, 10 min, 20 min, 4 hours, and 24 hours post-intervention. Physiologic effects were evaluated by analysis of blood, …

The Body Mass Index Of San Francisco Cold Water Swimmers - Comparisons To U.S. National And Local Populations, And Pool Swimmers, Brendan T. Crow, Ellicott C. Matthay, Stephen P. Schatz, Mark D. Debeliso, Thomas J. Nuckton

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(8): 1250-1262, 2017. To determine if cold-water swimmers have substantial differences in BMI, which might have a protective effect against heat loss during swims in cold water without wetsuits, and to determine if obesity is more or less prevalent in cold-water swimmers, we compared the body mass index (BMI) values of 103 recreational open-water swimmers (mean age 54.3 ±10.8 years) to data from various population groups. Swimmers swam consistently throughout the winter months, in the San Francisco Bay (water temperature range: 9.6° C [49.3 ° F] to 12.6° C [54.7 ° F]), without wetsuits. After …

Body Size Predicts Cardiac And Vascular Resistance Effects On Men's And Women's Blood Pressure, Joyce M. Evans, Siqi Wang, Christopher Greb, Vladimir Kostas, Charles F. Knapp, Qingguang Zhang, Eric S. Roemmele, Michael B. Stenger, David C. Randall

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Key Points Summary

• We report how blood pressure, cardiac output and vascular resistance are related to height, weight, body surface area (BSA), and body mass index (BMI) in healthy young adults at supine rest and standing.
• Much inter-subject variability in young adult's blood pressure, currently attributed to health status, may actually result from inter-individual body size differences.
• Each cardiovascular variable is linearly related to height, weight and/or BSA (more than to BMI).
• When supine, cardiac output is positively related, while vascular resistance is negatively related, to body size. Upon standing, the change in vascular resistance is positively related to size. …

The Effect Of Blinded Hydration State On Thermoregulation And Performance In Male Cyclists, Jon David Adams

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of these studies was to observe the effect of dehydration on exercise performance while subjects were blinded to their hydration status. Methods: Study 1: Seven male cyclists (weight: 71±8 kg, body fat: 14±6%, VO2peak: 59.4±6 ml∙kg-1·min-1) exercised for 2 hours on a cycle ergometer at 55% VO2peak, in a hot-dry environment (35°C, 30% rh), with a nasogastric (NG) tube under euhydrated (EUH-NT) and hypohydrated (DEH-NT) conditions. In both trials, thirst was matched by drinking 25 mL every 5 min. In the EUH-NT trial sweat losses were fully replaced via the NG tube. Following the 2 hours of …

Costs Of Group Locomotion: How Infant-Carrying And Group Members Mediate Walking Speed Decisions In North American And East African Populations, Leah M. Bouterse

Honors Projects

A major portion of humans’ activity-based energy expenditure is taken up by locomotion, particularly walking. Humans can offset the energetic expenditure of walking in numerous ways, both evolutionary (such as changes in body shape) and culturally. Behaviorally, people can choose to walk in a variety of ways, including alone or with a group, carrying loads, and walking quickly or more slowly. All of these behaviors have energetic outcomes and as such can be important windows into how populations and groups adjust to different constraints. While sex differences in speed of paired walkers have been established by others, the dynamics of …

Hibernator And Non-Hibernator Responses To Acute Changes In Water Intake, Sydni S. Andruskiewicz

All College Thesis Program, 2016-2019

Hibernating animals undergo dramatic changes in metabolic rates during torpor. One of most notable changes in these animals is the ability to maintain blood pressure and perfuse certain organs. Consequentially, blood perfusion to the kidneys is greatly decreased and the ability to concentrate urine halts. However, about once a week, torpor is interrupted and the animal becomes active to rewarm itself about once a week. This activity induces rapid regeneration of the extracellular osmotic gradient of the kidney, and allows urine to be concentrated. Nonetheless, regaining the extracellular osmotic gradient creates a potentially fatal consequence to the kidney cells. To …

The Effect Of Ambient Temperature On Recovery Of Surgical Stress In Sprague-Dawley Rats, Romie D. Powell

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Laboratory animals are housed at ambient temperatures ranging from 20°C – 26°C per recommended guidelines. Rats in particular typically prefer ambient temperatures (Tamb) of ~27°C (Brown et al, 2011). When rats undergo surgical instrumentation for experimental use, they often recover at normal room temperature (~21°C). While this is comfortable to those maintaining them, it may lead to a cold thermal stress for the rats. It is hypothesized that housing rats at ambient temperatures away from their preferred Tamb could lead to a thermal stress, which adversely affects surgical recovery. To address this, rats (220g-350g) were surgically instrumented with a radiotelemetry …

Human Stress Protein Response To Exercise And The Environment, Rebecca Cuthbert

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Stress proteins are molecular chaperones that protect cells from the damaging effects that can be caused by exercise and environmental changes. Cold-inducible RNA binding protein (CIRP) and RNA binding motif protein 3 (RBM3) protect cells from mild hypothermia and hypoxia. They allow cells to rapidly respond to environmental stresses by regulating gene expression. Heat shock proteins 27, 70, and 90 protect skeletal tissue from exercise and heat stress. They accelerate cellular repair and prevent misfolding of proteins. These proteins, especially CIRP and RBM3, have been studied in cell cultures and animal models, but limited data exist in humans. Purpose: To …

Altitude- And Sex-Specific Variation In Roosting Ecology And Thermoregulation Of Myotis Lucifugus In Yellowstone National Park, Alexandra C. Slusher

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Fifty-nine female and six male little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) were radio-tagged during the summers of 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 in Yellowstone National Park. The grand models for daily maximum skin temperature (F_98,154 = 1.55, P = 0.007), daily minimum skin temperature (F_98,154 = 1.33, P = 0.05), and daily variation in skin temperature (F_98,154 = 1.56, P = 0.006) were significant across roost type and reproductive condition class for adult females. Roosts were classified into Types A (warmest roosts), B (roosts with largest daily temperature variance), and C (stable and cool roosts) depending …

Hydrogen Sulfide Regulation Of Kir Channels, Junghoon Ha

Theses and Dissertations

Inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels establish and regulate the resting membrane potential of excitable cells in the heart, brain and other peripheral tissues. Phosphatidylinositol- 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is a key direct activator of ion channels, including Kir channels. Gasotransmitters, such as carbon monoxide (CO), have been reported to regulate the activity of Kir channels by altering channel-PIP2 interactions. We tested, in a model system, the effects and mechanism of action of another important gasotransmitter, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) thought to play a key role in cellular responses under ischemic conditions. Direct administration of sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS), as an exogenous H2S source, …

Stable Engraftment Of Bifidobacterium Longum Ah1206 In The Human Gut Depends On Individualized Features Of The Resident Microbiome, María X. Maldonado-Gómez, Inés Martínez, Francesca Bottacini, Amy O’Callaghan, Marco Ventura, Douwe Van Sinderen, Benjamin Hillmann, Pajau Vangay, Dan Knights, Robert W. Hutkins, Jens Walter

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Live bacteria (such as probiotics) have long been used to modulate gut microbiota and human physiology, but their colonization is mostly transient. Conceptual understanding of the ecological principles as they apply to exogenously introduced microbes in gut ecosystems is lacking. We find that, when orally administered to humans, Bifidobacterium longum AH1206 stably persists in the gut of 30% of individuals for at least 6 months without causing gastrointestinal symptoms or impacting the composition of the resident gut microbiota. AH1206 engraftment was associated with low abundance of resident B. longum and underrepresentation of specific carbohydrate utilization genes in the pre-treatment microbiome. …

Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone) Supplementation And Its Benefits In Cardiovascular Disease, Osteoporosis, And Cancer, Grant S. Buchanan, Md, Thomas Melvin, Brandon Merritt, Charles Bishop, Md, Franklin D. Shuler, Md, Phd

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Vitamin K is known to play an essential role in the coagulation cascade; however, a growing body of research has found that a subtype of this vitamin, vitamin K₂ (menaquinone) may have a beneficial effect in osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. This purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of recent literature regarding menaquinone and its role in human health. This review discusses the physiology of menaquinone, its clinical benefits in cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancer, and how it may interact with certain medications. The authors conclude that menaquinone supplementation has been shown to improve carboxylation …

Effect Of Beetroot Juice On Self-Regulated, Moderate-Intensity Exercise, Jordyn N. Rienks, Andrea A. Vanderwoude, Elizabeth Maas, Zachary M. Blea, Andrew W. Subudhi

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 8(3): 277-286, 2015. Dietary nitrate supplementation has been shown to reduce oxygen consumption at a fixed work rate. We questioned whether a similar effect would be observed during variable work rate exercise at a specific rating of perceived exertion (RPE), as is commonly prescribed for aerobic training sessions. Using a double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover design, ten females (25 ± 3 years; VO₂peak 37.1 ± 5.3 ml/kg/min) performed two 20-min cycle ergometer trials at a constant RPE of 13 (somewhat hard) 2.5 hours following ingestion of 140 ml of concentrated beetroot juice (12.9 mmol …