Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding Why Undergraduate Students Declare And Continue To Study An Exercise Science-Related Major, Matthew Vaartstra, Vanessa Kercher, Amanda Start, Amber Brown, Mark Peterson, Ryan Mcgrath

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 807-817, 2017. Understanding factors that contribute to a student’s selection of an exercise science-related major is important to student success, higher education and industry. This study sought to 1) better understand why undergraduate students study an exercise science-related major, 2) determine whether positive influences to study an exercise science-related major differ by academic classification, and 3) identify what student’s aspirations are after graduation. Department administrators from four-year colleges and universities offering an exercise science-related major in the Northwest Region of the United States (i.e., Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington) were contacted. Cooperating department administrators …

Blood Pressure And Cardiovascular Health Has Relationship With Age In Adults During Adulthood, Allyson K. Getty, Jessica M. Lenzo, Tia R. Wisdo, Joyann E. Oakman, Christina M. Cromwell, Jessica A. Hill, Lauren N. Chavis, Deborah L. Feairheller, Phd

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 798-806, 2017. Efforts to combat cardiovascular disease (CVD) have proven effective, especially in the population aged 55-74 years. However, less research has been conducted in younger populations to determine at what age CVD risk develops. The purpose of this study is to compare cardiovascular health markers in adults, specifically CVD risk between younger adults aged 18-22 and a slightly older group of adults in middle adulthood aged 23-54. Cardiovascular health measures were collected from a group of adults; 13 younger adults (20.2±0.9 yrs) and 10 adults in middle adulthood (42.9±10.1 yrs). All participants were …

Farley, Seth Thomas, Jr., 1917-1999 (Mss 617), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 617. Correspondence, documents, news clippings and ephemera from Seth Thomas Farley, Jr., a life-long educator. This collection includes a good deal of information about Farley’s teaching career prior to his work as a professor at WKU, his involvement in organizations that fought alcoholism and gambling (particularly the lottery in Kentucky), his church work, and his service on a committee to choose a federal magistrate for the western district of Kentucky. The collection includes an entire box of assessment related material related to Fort Knox Dependent Schools in the mid-1960s.

A Prospective Study Comparing Distance-Based Vs. Time-Based Exercise Prescriptions Of Walking And Running In Previously Sedentary Overweight Adults, Cody E. Morris, John C. Garner Iii, Scott G. Owens, Melinda W. Valliant, Hunter Debusk, Mark Loftin

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 782-798, 2017. Prior work has reported that the declines observed in body mass index (BMI) and circumference measurements in their cross-sectional data were twice as large when calculated from distance energy expenditure estimations compared to energy expenditure estimations based on time and intensity. The primary purpose of this study was to compare walking/running for distance to walking/running for time as part of an exercise intervention. This study followed a between-subjects, repeated measures design. Fifteen overweight, but otherwise healthy participants completed the study. The time-based group walked/ran for self-reported time while the distance-based group walked/ran …

Run Economy On A Normal And Lower Body Positive Pressure Treadmill, Corey Temple, Erik Lind, Deborah Van Langen, Larissa True, Saige Hupman, James F. Hokanson

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 774-781, 2017. Lower body positive pressure (LBPP) treadmill running is used more frequently in clinical and athletic settings. Accurate caloric expenditure is required for proper exercise prescription, especially for obese patients performing LBPP exercise. It is unclear if running on LBPP changes running economy (RE) in proportion to the changes in body weight. The purpose of the study was to measure the oxygen consumption (VO₂) and running economy (RE) of treadmill running at normal body weight and on LBPP. Twenty-three active, non-obese participants (25.8±7.2 years; BMI = 25.52±3.29 kg∙m^-2) completed …

Wrist-Worn Physical Activity Trackers Tend To Underestimate Steps During Walking, Tiffany Sears, Elmer Alvalos, Samantha Lawson, Ian Mcalister, L. Chris Eschbach, Jennifer Bunn

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 764-773, 2017. The purpose of this study was to determine step-count accuracy of pedometers at different walking speeds. Ten recreationally active participants walked at five treadmill speeds (0.89, 1.11, 1.34, 1.56, and 1.79 m/s) for five minutes while wearing four wrist-worn activity trackers (Fitbit Charge HR®, Garmin Vivosmart HR®, Apple iWatch®, Jawbone UP3®) and the hip-worn Digi-Walker®. Each step was manually counted by a research technician (benchmark). Total step count at each speed was obtained for each device and compared to the benchmark using one-way MANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient. For all five speeds, …

Examining The Impact Of A University-Driven Exercise Programming Event On End-Of-Semester Stress In Students, Tessa L. Koschel, John C. Young, James W. Navalta

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 754-763, 2017. Stress levels in university students peak during the final exam period. An inverse association exists between Physical Activity (PA) and poor mental health. UNLV has created Fitness4Finals (F4F), an event novel in its approach to academic stress reduction by incorporating both physical activity and mental relaxation. To our knowledge, a university-driven programming event aimed at reducing physiological and psychological stress among students approaching final exams had never been studied. Therefore, the aims of this research were to 1) examine the influence of F4F on physiological stress and perceived psychological stress (PPS) and …

Changes In Gait And Texting Ability During Progressively Difficult Gait Tasks, Andrew J. Strubhar, Brody Rapp, Dillon Thomas

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 743-753, 2017. To investigate the effects of a cell phone texting task on an individual’s ability to perform three ambulation-based tasks, each with different and progressively more difficult demands. 36 participants (24 male/12 female, average age 23.4) performed: a Timed Up & Go (TUG), stair ambulation (STAIR), and tandem gait (TAN). Participants completed each gait-based task under four conditions: as a practice, while holding their cellular device (baseline), while texting a message, and while reading a message. Statistically significant differences were found within the following variables: 1) mean time to complete a gait task …

Recovery In Level 7-10 Usa Artistic Gymnastics, Stephen Buckner, Nicholas T. Bacon, Phillip Bishop

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 734-742, 2017. This study assessed physical performance in women’s artistic gymnastics following three variable recovery periods. Participants included fifteen female gymnasts (mean age = 13.5 ± 1.1) who had competed at USA Gymnastics (USAG) levels 7 – 10 within at least one year prior to the study. Each testing session consisted of a warm-up followed by four muscular endurance tests and one explosive maximal test. Assessments included pull-ups, leg lifts, handstand push-ups, vertical jump, and push-ups. After the performance assessments, the participants completed a typical practice session. The performance measures were reassessed at the …

Fluid Intake And Sweat Rate During Hot Yoga Participation, Stephanie Campbell, Robert C. Pritchett, Katie Cederburg, Tim Burnham, Kelly C. Pritchett

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 721-733, 2017. Hot yoga participants are at risk for dehydration due to the nature of the environment they exercise in. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the pre-exercise hydration status, fluid balance, perception of sweat loss, and sweat sodium loss in 21 male and female hot yoga participants (mean age ± SD, 33.0 ± 10.5 yr; mass, 70.7 ± 11.0 kg). Data was recorded pre and post a one- hour hot yoga class (38.7 ± 2.6 °C, 36 ± 13% relative humidity). Pre-exercise urine specific gravity (USG), hydration status, body mass …

Effect Of Sedentary And Physical Activities On Children’S Food Choice, Allison M. Barry, Jesse L. Rhoades, John S. Fitzgerald, Dennis J. Caine, Dalonda L. Dalin, Tanis J. Walch

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 702-712, 2017. Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern. Research has shown sedentary behavior (SB) increases children’s unhealthy food consumption, while physical activity (PA) decreases caloric intake and increases energy expenditure. The purpose of this study was to examine child snack choice following a bout of active, SB, and a mix of SB and active (SB-A). Participants included a volunteer sample of children (n=24) ranging from 9-13 years of age. A within-subjects simple experimental design was used, and children participated in three conditions: active, SB, and SB-A. After each condition, the children were …

Pilot Study Of Endurance Runners And Brain Responses Associated With Delay Discounting, Laura E. Martin, Jason-Flor V. Sisante, David R. Wilson, Angela A. Moody, Cary R. Savage, Sandra A. Billinger

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 690-701, 2017. High levels of endurance training have been associated with potentially negative health outcomes and addictive-like symptoms such as exercise in the presence of injury and higher levels of impulsivity. This pilot study examined the relationships among self-report measures of addictive symptoms related to exercise and behavioral and neural measures of impulsivity in endurance runners. We hypothesized endurance runners would have increased preference for immediate rewards and greater activation of cognitive control regions when making decisions involving delayed rewards. Twenty endurance runners (at least 20 miles/week) were recruited to undergo measures of self-report …

Clinical Outcomes Of Different Tempos Of Music During Exercise In Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients, Jarad S. Miller, Donna J. Terbizan

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 681-689, 2017. This study examined the effects of stimulating and sedative music on ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and feeling status during exercise in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) patients. Twenty-two male and female older adults age 64 ± 8.0 y currently enrolled in phase III CR completed the study. Repeated measures crossover designs guided data collection. The manipulated independent variable was music condition (sedative, stimulating, and non-music control). The dependent variables were RPE, BP, HR, and feeling status with each represented by four repeated measures ANOVAs over time via …

Irisin And Fibronectin Type Iii Domain-Containing 5 Responses To Exercise In Different Environmental Conditions, Matthew Bubak, Matthew W.S. Heesch, Robert J. Shute, Nicholas E. Dinan, Terence L. Laursen, D. Taylor La Salle, Dustin R. Slivka

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 666-680, 2017. Fibronectin type III domain-containing 5 (FNDC5) is a skeletal muscle membrane-bound precursor to the myokine irisin. Irisin is involved in stimulating adipose tissue to become more metabolically active in order to produce heat. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of exercise in a hot (33 °C), cold (7 °C), and room temperature (RT, 20 °C) environment on the skeletal muscle gene expression of FNDC5 and the plasma concentrations of irisin. Twelve recreationally trained males completed three separate, 1 h cycling bouts at 60% of W_max in a …

The Effect Of Psychomotor Performance, Cerebral And Arterial Blood Saturation Between African-American And Caucasian Males Before, During And After Normobaric Hypoxic Exercise, Matthew R. Feeback, Yongsuk Seo, Matthew Dancy, Ellen L. Glickman

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 655-665, 2017. To further elucidate physiological and cognitive performance differences between African-American (AA) and Caucasian individuals (CAU) before, during or after hypoxic and normoxic exercise. Twelve college aged (18-25) apparently healthy African-American (six volunteers) and Caucasian (six subjects) males took part in two trials consisting of normobaric normoxia and normobaric hypoxia (12% oxygen). Each subject cycled at 50% of their altitude adjusted VO_2max (-26% of normoxia VO_2max) for one hour after a two-hour baseline. Subjects were monitored for cerebral and arterial O₂ saturation, as well as the Trail Making Test …

Blood Flow Restriction Training: Implementation Into Clinical Practice, William R. Vanwye, Alyssa Weatherholt, Alan E. Mikesky

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 649-654, 2017. To improve muscular strength and hypertrophy the American College of Sports Medicine recommends moderate to high load resistance training. However, use of moderate to high loads are often not feasible in clinical populations. Therefore, the emergence of low load (LL) blood flow restriction (BFR) training as a rehabilitation tool for clinical populations is becoming popular. Although the majority of research on LL-BFR training has examined healthy populations, clinical applications are emerging. Overall, it appears BFR training is a safe and effective tool for rehabilitation. However, additional research is needed prior to widespread …

Dropped In Without A Parachute: Library Managers’ Supervision Experiences, Simon Funge, Audrey Robinson-Nkongola, Laura Delancey, Austin G. Griffiths

Social Work Faculty Publications

A survey of U.S. library managers explored the relationship between their social identities, experiences supervising others, support from others, and their overall satisfaction in their professional role. The literature provides evidence that demographic differences give rise to challenges in the workplace. Though no statistically significant differences were found between minority and nonminority managers related to supervisees' microaggressive behaviors, written commentary provided evidence of these and other supervision challenges. A regression analysis found that supervisees' behaviors, along with a manager's age, were significant predictors of their satisfaction as a supervisor. Recommendations for further research and implications for libraries emerge from these …

Ua12/9 Newsletter, Vol. 4, Issue 4, Wku Counseling & Testing Center

WKU Administration Documents

Newsletter created by and about WKU Counseling & Testing Center.

• Our Staff
• Staff Spotlight - Susan Harper, Masami Matsuyuki
• Star's Report - Therapy Dog
• CTC Sets Green Dot Training Dates
• Star's Good Work
• Star is Turning 2
• Testing Corner
• Support Group Spotlight - LGBTQIA Group
• Resources
• Laves, Karl. Who Are You Going to Call?
• Fun Facts About August
• Counseling Services

Quarterly Meeting Minutes & Packet, Wku Board Of Regents

Board of Regents Documents

Packet used for WKU Board of Regents quarterly meeting. Material includes information about degree and certificate programs:

• Economic Data Analytics
• Addiction Education
• Computer Animation
• Health Informatics
• Public Health
• Environmental Health
• Health Education & Health Promotion
• Applied Human Sciences

distinguished professors, emeriti, enrollment, personnel actions and budget.

Cochran Family Letters (Sc 3135), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3135. Two letters of John B. Cochran, 22 August 1855 and 1 June 1856, written from his family farm, Locust Grove, in Spencer County, Kentucky to his wife (and cousin) Magdalen M. Cochran. He refers to a celebration of his election as state representative, and teases her about letter-writing; the second letter consoles her on her father’s death. Includes a letter, 27 August 1856, from Magdalen to John, written from her family home, Loch Willow, in Augusta County, Virginia, regarding her health and planned return home. The letters mention several individuals by first …

Functions, Forms, And Accessibility Of English As A Second Language Courses In South-Central Kentucky, Mollie Todd

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

In the South-Central region of Kentucky there are several facilities that teach English as Second Language (ESL) courses. This thesis examines the forms and styles of these classes, as well as problems refugee students face in the classroom and the functions the classes may serve beyond the teaching of English. To accomplish this, I used anthropological field work methods, including semi-structured interviews with local ESL teachers, volunteers, and professionals in refugee services and participant observation. I will focus on the interviews I have conducted; what content has been collected, structure of the interviews, and what questions were asked. This paper …

Messer, George, 1833-1863 (Sc 3129), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and transcription (click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 3129. Letter, 26 March 1863, of George Messer to his wife Lottie in DeWitt County, Illinois. From Camp Joe Kelly (the name changed, as he notes, to Camp Hobson) near Glasgow, Kentucky, he describes camp life, including the clearing of timber and his duty in the cold and rainy weather. He also praises the hospital facilities and describes a joke played on an officer who returned to camp without a pass. Expecting the war to end soon, he also writes of matters relating to home.

Effect Assessment Of Tio2 Nanoparticles Exposure On Medicago By Monitoring Morphophysiology, Charles Towey

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

In recent years titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) have been ingredients in everything from paints to cosmetics, and even in some kinds of food. This growth in use has resulted in a substantial increase in the amount of titanium released into the environment, which could have detrimental effects on nearby plant and animal life. Currently, the number of studies conducted on the effects of TiO₂NPs is quite small, especially when it comes to edible crops. Because of this lack of research data, this study has been designed to assess the effect of TiO₂ NPs exposure on …

Meeting Minutes, Wku Staff Council

Staff Council

Minutes of July 2017 meeting.

Vance, Edward Richard, 1833-1902 (Mss 612), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 612. Correspondence, diaries, scrapbooks, photographs and family papers of Richard Vance, a Warren County, Kentucky native and U.S. Army officer. After his Civil War service, Vance spent his career at several posts in the South and on the frontier until his retirement in 1892.

Ua35/8 Reveille, Vol. 25, No. 2, Wku Veterans Upward Bound

WKU Administration Documents

Newsletter created by and about WKU Veternas Upward Bound.

• Rck Wright Awarded 2017 Kentucky Veterans of the Year's Male Distinguished Friend of Veterans Award
• Veterans Upward Bound 25th Anniversary Celebration
• Soldier for Life Center Seeks to Ease Soldiers' Transition
• Student Vets are Chaing High-paying Careers
• Ditch the Junk Food

Ua77/1 Wku Spirit, Wku Alumni Relations

WKU Administration Documents

WKU alumni magazine. Contents:

• Ransdell, Gary. Letter from the President
• 20 Things You Didn’t Know About Gary Ransdell
• Scholarship Celebration
• U.S. News & World Report Ranks WKU Online Programs Among Best in Nation
• Gary Ransdell to Become President & CEO of Semester at Sea
• Six WKU Students Awarded Gilman International Scholarships for Summer 2017
• WKU Tied for 2^nd in 2016-2017 List of Top Fulbright Producers
• Six WKU Faculty & Alumni Named 2017 Trailblazer Honorees
• University Distinguished Professor Gifts Proceeds from IRA to WKU
• Honors College at WKU Named for Dixie & Pete Mahurin
• Gabbi Doolin Memorial Scholarship
• Vic Richey …

Between Words And Deeds: Diverse Voices And The Communicative Constitution Of Diversity, Scott E. Branton Ii

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

While diversity is widely discussed throughout management literature, the impact of diversity management on diverse organizational members remains exceedingly sparse. Furthermore, the present case study uses a communication centered approach to address how diverse faculty member’s organizational experiences with diversity align with an academic institution’s publicly stated values of diversity. Through a critical interpretive lens, 15 semi-structured, in-depth interviews of diverse faculty members were conducted at a medium sized, Southern university (“Southern U”). Findings suggested that contradictions were heavily embedded into Southern U’s diversity communication resulting in a host of paradoxical tensions for diverse faculty members. This study explored the …

Investigating The Motivation Factors Of Food Choice During The Transition Of High School Into College Life Among College Students Attending Western Kentucky University, Yu-Hsuan Chen

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Most individuals with chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, and type 2 diabetes, were diagnosed in their late adulthood. The fact that these chronic diseases is a consequence of long-term unhealthy behaviors is often ignored. The unhealthy behaviors are often traced back to the young adulthood (age 18-25). Some young adults may participate in unhealthy behaviors, such as unhealthy diet, under the perception that they are “still young”. However, it is often overlooked that once a habit is established, it is difficult to eliminate or modify it. Furthermore, the awareness that the development of the chronic disease is …

The Relationships Between Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Frequency And Suicidal Behaviors, Depression, And Anxiety: A Curvilinear Analysis, Sherry Elizabeth Woods

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) involves the deliberate damage of one’s own bodily tissue without suicidal intent. A number of psychological disorders and indicators of distress are correlated with the behavior, including suicidal behaviors (e.g. Whitlock & Knox, 2007), depression (e.g. Ross & Heath, 2002), and anxiety (e.g. Victor & Klonksy, 2014), and yet the research literature has been mixed on whether increased frequency of NSSI is correlated with increased levels of these variables. The present study hypothesized that these relationships are curvilinear. Data from a larger study were analyzed using curvilinear regression analyses, and hypotheses were partially supported. Curvilinear relationships were …