Digital Commons Network^™

Fluid Intake And Hydration Responses To Mass Participation Gravel Cycling, Carly Schuerger, Brandon Raik, Francis Salmon, Kian Foote, Angelo Madlambayan, Maya Vega, Grace Handler, Matthew M. Schubert

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(2): 1648-1662, 2024. Gravel cycling is a relatively new cycling discipline, with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) hosting their first World Championships in 2022. Gravel races combine features of road racing, cyclocross, and mountain biking, including terrain of varying technical difficulty, long distances, substantial elevation gain, obstacles, and limited opportunities to stop for in-race nutrition. This study assessed hydration responses to gravel races of three different distances. Data were collected on saliva osmolarity (SOsm), body mass (BM), fluid intake, and nutrition knowledge at a gravel cycling race in April 2023. A total of 121 participants …

Assessment Of The Accuracy Of A Deep Learning Algorithm- And Video-Based Motion Capture System In Estimating Snatch Kinematics, Federico Thiele, Florian K. Paternoster, Chris Hummel, Fabian Stöcker, Denis Holzer

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(1): 1629-1647, 2024. In weightlifting, quantitative kinematic analysis is essential for evaluating snatch performance. While marker-based (MB) approaches are commonly used, they are impractical for training or competitions. Markerless video-based (VB) systems utilizing deep learning-based pose estimation algorithms could address this issue. This study assessed the comparability and applicability of VB systems in obtaining snatch kinematics by comparing the outcomes to an MB reference system. 21 weightlifters (15 Male, 6 Female) performed 2–3 snatches at 65%, 75%, and 80% of their one-repetition maximum. Snatch kinematics were analyzed using an MB (Vicon Nexus) and VB (Contemplas …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 100, No. 2, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period November 11 - December 5, 2024.

• Wilborn, Price. Letter from the Editor – Homecoming
• Vickers, Abigail. Homecoming Royalty – Milie LeJeune, Sarah Burke, Katie Burch, Jennifer Smith, Alice Waddell
• A New Era for Social Sciences at WKU – Society, Culture, Crime & Justice
• Steps from WKU, Miles of Charm – Walk2Campus
• Wilborn, Price. Martha Sales Reflects on Life, Leadership & Growth
• Leasing Agents Lending a Friendly Face & Helping Hand – Columns
• Smith, Kane. How Local Businesses Prepare for Homecoming Crowds
• Downtown Bowling Green – Restaurants & Businesses
• Home Sweet …

Reaction Of A Chiral Platinum Triamine Compound With Key Amino Acid And Guanine Analog, Onu Emmanuel Chukwu

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Platinum compounds can exhibit cytotoxic activity through reaction with DNA; however, interaction with proteins and DNA bases, especially with methionine residues and Guanine analogs, is another common biological reaction. Our lab has synthesized Chloro[2-(4-Methyl-1,4- diazepan-1-yl) ethanamine]platinum(II) chloride ([Pt(L)Cl]Cl), which has a tridentate binding mode for the amine ligand. This study focused on the reaction of the chiral platinum triamine with key amino acids (methionine and 2-hydroxybutyric acid) and guanine analogs under different pH and temperature conditions. The mass spectrometry of N-AcMet Interaction with [Pt(L)Cl]+ showed a m/z of 542 and 579 for reactions at pH 4. The m/z of 542 …

Newsletter, Wku Staff Senate

Staff Council

Newsletter created by WKU Staff Council to report on work accomplished.

Using Improvement Science To Enhance Paraprofessional Development To Foster Supportive Classroom Environments And Impact Teacher Retention, Althea Hurt

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Recruiting, hiring, and retaining qualified teachers continues to be a problem in the United States and in many other countries, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Globally, many teachers express dissatisfaction with pay, but other factors – including dissatisfaction with the level of support received, stress brought on by the workload, and struggles with challenging student behavior – have also contributed to high teacher turnover rates. To support student learning outcomes, administrators and policymakers must be aware of, and address, why teachers are leaving.

This study used an improvement science approach to address the reasons why teachers left a suburban school …

Fat Deposition, Β- Carotene, And Vitamin A Metabolism In Bulls, Steers, And Heifers, Tesla Trammell

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Research highlights the impact of Vitamin A on cattle growth and meat quality. Supplementing Vitamin A early in life has been linked to enhanced IMF content and growth rates in calves, especially when administered at birth or during early developmental stages. This is attributed to the role of the ZFP423 gene in adipocyte formation, with studies noting its involvement in the development of IMF during the finishing phase.

This study aims to add to the present research by evaluate the effect of calves’ sexual class on blood β-carotene and Vitamin A before weaning. The second study evaluated the β- carotene …

Peer Teasing And Muscle Dysmorphia, Jasmine Arnold

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of bodily-related teasing during childhood and adolescence on Muscle Dysmorphia (MD) symptomology during adulthood. Another goal of this study was to investigate the connection between bodily peer teasing to lowself- esteem and negative affect, two factors that have been argued to be contributing factors of MD. 79 individuals who identified as male and were 18 years old or order were recruited to participate in the study. However, only 70 people completed the questionnaires to completion. Participants completed the Muscle Dysmorphia Questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety …

Nondisclosure Of Trans Group Status Among Transgender Individuals, Alexander Williams

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of the study was to investigate motivations for concealment of transgender group status beyond a qualitative scale. Additionally, the study aimed to identify the role one’s identity centrality, salience, and valence played in concealment behavior and attitudes. It was hypothesized that factors found in the extant literature (i.e., gender dysphoria, lack of connection, safety, stigma, and discrimination concerns) would apply presently. It was hypothesized that those individuals with low identity centrality, salience, and valence would be less likely to disclose their trans status. Results indicated that the previously named factors for concealment were present among participants with particularly …

Impact Of Campus Recreation On Student Success At A Small, Private Institution, Abe Cross

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Institutions of higher education are seeing a decline in enrollment and state funding. These matters are compounded by a smaller number of graduating high school seniors than years past (Pell Institute, 2022). Considering that it costs more to recruit new students compared to retaining current students, colleges and universities are focusing on effective retention strategies (Pell Institute, 2022).

Meanwhile, Misener (2019), Battjes (2019), and Zegre (2019) have found a correlation between campus recreation utilization and student success at NCAA Division 1 schools. Each of these schools enrolls more than 25,000 students. Their work is built on Tinto’s (1975, 1993) Theory …

Subconcussive Impacts And Their Effect On Attention, Scott York

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In recent years, concussions have become a focal point for athletic competition and athletes beginning in grade school. The long-term implications of concussions are becoming more widely known and accepted; however, there are still areas of literature that are lacking. One of these areas is subconcussive impacts. Subconcussive impacts are defined as impacts that do not meet the threshold for diagnosed concussion but may still have clinical impact. While concussions and their effects on cognition have been examined heavily, these subconcussive impacts, and their effects, have been studied less so. The purpose of this study is to examine the possible …

Observing Dynamic Emotional Faces From Many Generations, Tashaunda Grimmett

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study sought to further understand emotion perception capabilities in younger and older adults. Previous studies examining emotion perception have consistently found emotion recognition deficits with age. The most common technique used to investigate age differences in emotion perception is a label selection task that presents static images of actors expressing emotion. More recently, dynamic stimuli have been developed; they portray realistic facial expressions that are more comparable to what one sees in real life. The use of dynamic stimuli has been found to ameliorate most age differences in the recognition of basic emotion categories. The current study presented dynamic …

Student Employment: Analysis On Perceived Academic Progress Of Undergraduate Students Who Are Employed On-Campus Vs. Offcampus, Minnette Ellis

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study explores the perceived academic progress of student employment, specifically differences between undergraduate students who are employed on-campus versus off-campus. The study used quantitative methodology and analyzed data from 342 students at a regional university to examine their self-reported GPA, time spent on schoolwork, and perceptions of how their employment impacted their academic success. The analysis indicated that students who were employed on-campus perceived their employment in a more positive terms related to their academic pursuits than students who were employed off-campus. There was no significant difference in the amount study hours spent between students who were employed on-campus …

Evaluation Of Biochar As A Remediation Tool For Aminopyralid Contaminated Compost, Steven James Parris

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Aminopyralid is a synthetic auxin herbicide which is applied to grass pastures to control broadleaf weed populations. Aminopyralid can contaminate compost through inputs derived from treated pastures such as manure and grass clippings. This possibility poses the threat of inadvertent herbicide exposure to sensitive vegetable plants through using compost contaminated with aminopyralid. Biochar can absorb pollutants and has a synergistic effect with compost when applied to the compost mixture. This study examined the relationship between biochar and aminopyralid through compost consisting of dairy manure and sawdust 1:1 mixture, aminopyralid (10μg/kg), and biochar at four treatment levels of total mass of …

The Effects Of Tiktok Use On Mental Health Outcomes And Stigma, Alecia Hatfield

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The present study aimed to examine the relationship between TikTok use, mental health, and mental health stigma. There were three hypotheses for this study: TikTok use would be associated with decreased mental health stigma, TikTok use would be associated with increased anxiety, and TikTok use would be associated with increased depression. A total of 115 participants were recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), and they completed an online Qualtrics survey. Regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between TikTok use and anxiety, depression, and mental health stigma. Results indicated that increased time spent on TikTok was associated with an …

Randomized Pilot Study Examining An Online Diet Intervention To Increase Intake Of Fruits And Vegetables Among Healthy Adults, Diana Kolb, Sarah Deemer, Eva Claire Synkowski, Stephanie Silveira

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(2): 1618-1628, 2024. Intake of fruits and vegetables (F&V) is related to health outcomes. The purpose of the study was to test an online diet program promoting F&V intake among healthy adults. Twenty-three participants were randomly assigned to complete an 8-week intervention condition (#800gChallenge®) or wait-list control condition. In weeks 1-4, intervention participants were asked to interact with an application reporting (a) whether they met their daily 800g F&V goal, (b) if their 800g of F&V was from a variety of sources, and (c) reading of daily educational material. Weeks 1-4 included weekly Zoom check-in …

Differences In Physiological Responses Between Two Repeated Sprint Protocols In Female Soccer Players, Emma Hörnlund, Spyridon Hadjispyrou, Apostolos Theos

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(6): 1605-1617, 2024. Soccer is a team sport characterized by repeated high-intensity sprints followed by brief periods of recovery. Repeated sprints with (RCOD) and without (RSA) change-of-direction has therefore been recognized as an important fitness component. The purpose of the present study was to examine the differences in physiological responses between RSA and RCOD, and the relationship with Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (YYIR1), as an estimate of aerobic capacity, in female soccer players. Thirteen female soccer players (age: 20.8 ± 2.6 years) participated. All players performed an RSA and RCOD test, as well as a …

Distinct Visual Processing Patterns In Female Elite Athletes: A Comparative Study Of Gymnastics, Soccer, And Esports Using Visual P300 Event-Related Potentials, Papatsorn Ramyarangsi, Simon J. Bennett, Vorasith Siripornpanich, Ampika Nanbancha, Akachai Pokaisasawan, Prapan Noppongsakit, Amornpan Ajjimaporn

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(5): 1595-1604, 2024. Visual processing is crucial for sports performance, influencing athletes' ability to interpret and respond to visual stimuli. This study investigated distinct visual processing patterns among Thai elite athletes in gymnastics, soccer, and esports, utilizing visual P300 event-related potentials (P300 ERPs). Forty-two female athletes (14 gymnasts, 14 soccer players, and 14 esports athletes) participated. Visual P300 ERP responses were stimulated using the visual oddball paradigm. One-way ANOVA was employed to assess significant differences among the groups in P300 ERPs data, including amplitude and latency of waveforms, response time, and accuracy rate. Significant differences …

Can Lower-Body Strength And Power Alleviate Load Carriage Performance Decrements (Tactical Deficit) In Simulated Law Enforcement Job Tasks?, Ashley M. Bloodgood, Joseph Dulla, Megan Thompson, Matthew R. Moreno, Robin (Rob) Marc Orr, J. Jay Dawes, Robert G. Lockie

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(4): 1577-1594, 2024. Law enforcement agencies typically have recruits complete fitness assessments without personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE negatively impacts performance. Greater strength and power could alleviate performance decrements due to the extra load, termed the tactical deficit (TD). The purpose of this study was to examine whether lower-body strength or power related to the TD in civilians performing police tasks. Twenty participants (12 men, 8 women) completed baseline tests, including: standing broad jump (SBJ); relative SBJ; absolute and relative isometric leg/back dynamometer (LBD) and one-repetition maximum hexagonal bar deadlift (HBD). In two other sessions, …

Heart Rate And Blood Pressure Responses Vary Between Blood Flow Restriction Cuff Type, Daniela Rincon Garcia, Abbey C. Hafler, Rebecca F. Rodriguez, Erica M. Marshall

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(2): 1568-1576, 2024. The purpose of the study was to compare heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) following high load resistance exercise (HLRE) and blood flow restriction exercise (BFRE) with a knee wrap (kBFRE) and pneumatic cuff (pBFRE). Eleven men (N = 9) and women (N = 2) participated. HR, SBP, and DBP were collected at Rest, immediately post exercise (IP), 10-, 30-, and 45-minutes post exercise. Repeated measures ANOVAs assessed the effects of condition across time on all variables. Significant effects were examined with pairwise comparisons and a …

Relative Age Effect For Different Playing Positions In Adolescent Female Volleyball Players, Christos Ntozis, Karolina Barzouka, Apostolos Z. Skouras, Evgenia Cherouveim, Flora Papitsi, Nikolaos Apostolidis, Charilaos Tsolakis

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(4): 1553-1567, 2024. Understanding the Relative Age Effect (RAE) in female volleyball can provide a deeper insight into potential developmental advantages and selection biases between playing positions and volleyball-related performance characteristics. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of the RAE in adolescent female volleyball players according to the playing position and the possible differences in anthropometric and performance characteristics between the relative age groups. The study involved 193 young female volleyball players from 12 different regions and 108 sports clubs from all over Greece, with an average age of 14.53 ± 0.31 years, height …

The Effects Of Mental Fatigue Induced By The Stroop Test On Muscular Endurance Performance And Neuromuscular Activation In Division Iii Female Athletes, Francesca Cuchna, Jeffrey Herrick, Price Blair, Sean Collins

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(4): 1540-1552, 2024. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect that mental fatigue, as induced by a Stroop test, has on resistance training performance outcomes such as muscular endurance, power output, and neuromuscular activation. Seven female college-aged NCAA Division III student-athletes with at least one year of resistance training experience and were within the 50th percentile for maximal aerobic capacity provided informed consent for participation. During two separate visits, using a within-subject crossover experimental design, subjects completed either the experimental or control condition. Subjects then completed a to-failure leg press test at …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 100, No. 1, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period October 9 - November 11, 2024.

• Wilborn, Price. Letter from the Editor – Elections
• Ivory, Larkin, Cameron Shaw, Libby Simpson & Abigail Vickers. How WKU Students Are Approaching the Ballot Box
• Todd Alcott Shares Vision for Bowling Green

• Freidhof, Natalie. A College Student’s Guide to the Swing States
• Reed-Whalen, Bradlee. What Is Amendment 22? – School Funding
• Di Palermo, Dominic. More to Accomplish – Todd Alcott, Bowling Green Mayor
• Todd Alcott for Mayor In His Own Words
• Patti Minter for Mayor In Her Own Words
• Randolph, Eli. A Day in …

Effects Of Different Warm-Up Protocols On The Cardiopulmonary Responses To Exercise Testing In Youth, Avery D. Faigenbaum, Jie Kang, Jenna Ingui, Aidan Fish, Jessica Dimatteo, Izzy Leazier, Jill Bush, Nicholas Ratamess

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(4): 1530-1539, 2024. The aim of this study was to compare the warm-up effects of a treadmill walking warm-up (TW) with a dynamic warm-up (DW) on the responses to cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in youth. A sample of 16 active youth (age 13.6 ± 1.8 yr) were tested for peak oxygen uptake (VO₂ peak) using the Fitkids treadmill test protocol on 2 nonconsecutive days following different 6-min warm-up procedures. The TW consisted of walking on a treadmill at 2.2 mph and 0% grade whereas the DW consisted of 12 bodyweight exercises with a 2 …

Where Do Gorillas Get Their Protein? Plant-Based Diet For A Healthier Lifestyle, Cheryl Track

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

After watching what they thought to be an interesting and educational documentary on nutrition, my friends, Sharon and Scott, felt inspired to challenge themselves by undertaking some dietary changes apart from their regular eating habits. What started out as a short “trial run” to explore plant-based dieting, Sharon and Scott quickly realized this alternative eating style proved beneficial. In a short period of time, two individuals with their own fitness and wellness goals saw noticeable changes in lab results and experienced positive changes to their overall health – enough evidence leaving them convinced the “trial run” with plant-based dieting should …

Grief And Loss: Catholic Filipino Traditions, Edgar D. Montesa

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

Catholic Filipino traditions regarding death, loss, and grief, consist of Christian, paganistic and animistic elements. The peculiar beliefs and practices reflect ethnic Filipinos' values and views of things. They help contemporary Filipinos cope with a loved one's death and with the challenges posed by a pandemic. They have certain implications for faith community nurses.

A Phone Coaching Intervention To Improve Blood Pressure And Hypertension Self-Management Practices In A Community-Based Setting: Pilot Study, Ann Moore, Pandora Goode, Elijah Onsomu, Dionne Roberts

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

Hypertension is common in the African American (AA) community, and AAs have disproportionately lower rates of blood pressure control in comparison to other races. Because hypertension self-management practices are performed mostly by patients and family members, there is a critical need to acquire adequate hypertension self-management practices. Phone Coaching (PC) has been supported in the literature as an effective intervention to improve hypertension self-management practices. The purpose of this project was to pilot test a 12-week hypertension self-management program with a phone coaching component for AAs in a community-based setting to improve blood pressure measures and self-management practices. All participants …

Feasibility Of Virtual Lifestyle Physical Activity Program For South Asian Indian Immigrant Women: Dance And Spousal/Partner Dyad Meetings, Manju Daniel Dr., Susan Weber Buchholz Dr., Pamela Semanik Dr., Sachin Vispute

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

Culturally relevant, physical activity (PA) interventions are important in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in South Asian Indian immigrant (SAI) women. This 12-week study aimed to determine the feasibility (recruitment, engagement, satisfaction, obtaining measures, retention) of implementing a virtual lifestyle PA program. The outcomes measured included steps/day; minutes of moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA/week) and cardiovascular health measures (aerobic fitness, blood pressure, body mass index, and waist circumference) in women. The intervention targets included benefits/barriers to PA, self-efficacy, social support, and couples’ satisfaction. We recruited six SAI spousal/partner dyads (women aged 40-65 years; < 7,500 average steps/day). The intervention included: (a) Fitbit for PA prescription and step goal setting for women; (b) Bollywood-style women-only weekly dance sessions via Zoom; and (c) dyad behavioral group meetings every two weeks via Zoom. Dance and group meeting attendance for women was 100%. The majority (83.3%) wore a Fitbit > 91.6% of days. Overall mean client satisfaction …

I’Ll Just Weight On The Lord: The Lived Experience Of Obesity, Spirituality, And Health Behaviors In African American Women, Andrea S. Poynter, Florence M. Weierbach

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

Obesity is one of the fastest growing health concerns impacting all racial, ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic groups in the United States of America. Obesity has gained nationwide attention due to its health-related disorders such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and various cancer types that increase the annual medical cost on a financially stressed health system (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2022). Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in all races and genders within the US with African American women comprising a majority of those impacted by this chronic health condition (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Offices of …

Exploring The Barriers And Supports Of Faith Community Nurses Serving In Alaska: A Qualitative Study, Nathan T. West, Phd, Lauren M. Kiker, Ba, Beverly R. Bateman, Msn, Rn, Fcn, Krista Jones, Dnp, Msn, Rn, Phna-Bc, Faan

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

Decades of research exist on the public health impact of faith community nurses (FCNs), particularly congregational health promotion and disease prevention. However, the literature exploring the barriers and supports FCNs experience when serving their communities is limited. Thus, guided by Ziebarth’s (2016) conceptual framework of faith community nursing, this study explored the lived experiences of FCNs (N = 8) delivering care to faith communities in Alaska. Thematic analyses of qualitative data revealed three major themes including 1) the descriptions, characteristics, and roles performed by FCNs (e.g., active listening, policy-level recommendations); 2) barriers and other factors impacting FCNs’ delivery of care …