Life Sciences Commons^™

Caffeine’S Impact On Heart Rate Variability During Short-Term Exercise In University Students, Maya J. Spinler, Morgan M. Payne, Christopher Carroll Dr.

Human Kinetics & Applied Health Sciences Student Works

The primary objective is to explore the physiological effects of caffeine on intra-bout exercise-induced blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) deceleration resulting from repeated anaerobic exercise cycling in active university students. Use of caffeinated stimulants has increased in recent years, particularly in the exercise setting. The cardiovascular system (CS) is an essential piece of exercise physiology and is controlled by the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Caffeine has a known effect on the CS during acute exercise. What is not well solidified is the connection between caffeine and exercise-induced markers, such as heart rate recovery (HRR) and BP. Participants underwent …

Ankle Mobility And Balance In A Healthy College-Aged Population: A Correlational Study, Anna G. Johnson, Madelyn M. Roiger, Elisa M. Stewart

Human Kinetics & Applied Health Sciences Student Works

A review of current literature shows a relationship between ankle mobility and balance in an older population, with limited evidence in younger, healthy populations. To bridge this gap, this study aims to explore this relationship in a healthy, college-aged population. Maintaining upright balance is an integrated effort by the vestibular, somatosensory, and visual systems. Regaining a loss of balance happens with three strategies: an ankle strategy for small perturbations, a hip strategy for moderate perturbations, and a stepping strategy for the largest loss to regain a new base of support. Taking these sequential responses into account, the investigators specifically looked …

The Effects Of Music Tempo On Arithmetic Cognition Testing, Heart Rate, And Perceived Stress, Katelyn Allton, Matthew Chapin

Human Kinetics & Applied Health Sciences Student Works

Thirty-one participants signed up for one 60-minute appointment. The participants took four Arithmetic Tests and rated their perceived stress for each test. The first was a pre-test which allowed the participants to practice the procedure, and no results were recorded. The second was the control test with no music played. The third and fourth tests were randomized to include the fast-tempo or the slow-tempo song. The data recorded was time (in seconds), heart rate, test score (percent correct), and Likert Scale score (number from 1-10) following each test. The data was all recorded in a secure, password-protected online excel sheet. …

Alterations In C:N Ratio To Understand Plant Metabolic Pathways In Response To Pressure From Goat Grazing In The Invasive Species: Rhamnus Cathartica, Vivian Marchan

2023 Ignite the Spark Outstanding Undergraduate Research and Scholarship

The high fecundity and high germination rates of Rhamus cathartica serves the species to out-compete regional plant native species. Its high abundance in deciduous forest ecosystems forces species that are unable to utilize R. cathartica as a food source to migrate to areas of lower density, further contributing to the decline in regional biodiversity. Bare soil conditions left as the result of the high concentration of Nitrogen in senesced leaves and leaf litter, cause further amplification of the migration of non-plant species to areas of lower R. cathartica density. Nitrogen is essential to primary and secondary metabolism, thus minimizing the …

The Relationship Between Motivational Music And Endurance Performance Of College-Aged Individuals, Sara Tan, Dy Say Der

Human Kinetics & Applied Health Sciences Student Works

Introduction: Music has shown beneficial ergogenic effects to exercise performance by increasing endorphins and catecholamines levels in the blood. However, the relationship between motivational lyrical music and endurance performance is still unclear. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between motivational music and endurance performance using the Sports-specific Endurance Plank Test.
Methods: 10 males and 26 females (age 21± 3 years) college-aged students were recruited to complete the study at Bethel University. All participants performed the Sports-specific Endurance Plank which assesses the trunk flexors and lumbar extensors in the same manner observed in sports performance movements. Participants …

Differences In Anaerobic Power And Fatigue Index In Different Phases Of The Menstrual Cycle, Ellie Steinle, Makenna Brown

Human Kinetics & Applied Health Sciences Student Works

PURPOSE: The menstrual cycle has only recently become a more popular area to explore by researchers, and, because of this, there is a lack of research done on the menstrual cycle and the effects it has on females. The purpose of this research was to examine the effects that the phases of the menstrual cycle, in accordance with the surges and lulls of estrogen, have on performance outcomes.

METHODS: Twenty-six college-aged subjects who were moderately active based on ACSM guidelines and who have a menstrual cycle were included in two sessions of testing. For the first session, subjects completed the …

Acute Effects Of Mental Health On Concussion Testing, Annika Thompson, Carin Gutzwiller

Human Kinetics & Applied Health Sciences Student Works

The process of diagnosing a concussion starts long before any hit on the field. At the beginning of each season, athletes are baseline tested using the same Sports Concussion Assessment Test 5 (SCAT5) that is used on the field when injury occurs. How they perform on this baseline test plays a major role in future diagnosis. Thirty-Five male and female subjects (mean years of age 20.8 years ± 1.6) free of concussion diagnosis came in for a total of three separate appointments. At each appointment, a mental health survey, reaction time test, and the cognitive portion of the SCAT 5 …

An Investigation Into The Use Of An Herbal Labor Induction Tincture Containing Black Cohosh, Cramp Bark, Partridgeberry, And Motherwort On Contractile Responses Produced From Isolated Strips Of Mouse Uterine Tissues, Clayton Neuenschwander, Katrina Wu, Teresa F. Degolier

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: Alternative solutions in the form of herbal remedies meant to ease or expedite the process of labor have often been pursued and administered but have seldom been quantitatively tested for efficacy. Published research has shown some validation for some commonly used herbs such as blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides), red raspberry (Rubus idaeus), castor bean (Ricinus communis) and evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) on isolated mouse uterine strips. Methods: This study tested an array of herbs used by midwives in a labor induction tincture, which included black cohosh (Actaea racemosa), cramp bark (Viburnum opulus), partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), and motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca). …

Smaller Classes Promote Equitable Student Participation In Stem, Cissy J. Ballen, Stepfanie M. Aguillon, Azza Awwad, Anne E. Bjune, Daniel Challou, Abby Grace Drake, Michelle Driessen, Aziza Ellozy, Vivian E. Ferry, Emma E. Goldberg, William Harcombe, Steve Jensen, Christian Jørgensen, Zoe Koth, Suzanne Mcgaugh, Caroline Mitry, Bryan Mosher, Hoda Mostafa, Renee H. Petipas, Paula A.G. Soneral, Shana Watters, Deena Wassenberg, Stacey L. Weiss, Azariah Yonas, Kelly R. Zamudio, Sehoya Cotner

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

As science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) classrooms in higher education transition from lecturing to active learning, the frequency of student interactions in class increases. Previous research documents a gender bias in participation, with women participating less than would be expected on the basis of their numeric proportions. In the present study, we asked which attributes of the learning environment contribute to decreased female participation: The abundance of in-class interactions, the diversity of interactions, the proportion of women in class, the instructor's gender, the class size, and whether the course targeted lower division (first and second year) or upper division …

Decreasing Phosphatidylcholine On The Surface Of The Lipid Droplet Correlates With Altered Protein Binding And Steatosis, Laura Listenberger, Elizabeth Townsend, Cassandra Rickertsen, Anastasia Hains, Elizabeth Brown, Emily G. Inwards, Angela K. Stoeckman

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of lipid droplets (LDs) in the liver. Here, we explore the composition of hepatic LDs in a rat model of AFLD. Five to seven weeks of alcohol consumption led to significant increases in hepatic triglyceride mass, along with increases in LD number and size. Additionally, hepatic LDs from rats with early alcoholic liver injury show a decreased ratio of surface phosphatidylcholine (PC) to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). This occurred in parallel with an increase in the LD association of perilipin 2, a prominent LD protein. To determine if changes to the …

Developmental Perceptual Impairments: Cases When Tone-Deafness And Prosopagnosia Co-Occur, Sébastien Paquette, Hui C. Li, Sherryse L. Corrow, Stephanie S. Buss, Jason J.S. Barton, Gottfried Schlaug

Psychology Faculty Publications

Studies have shown subtle gray and white matter abnormalities in subjects with several developmental disorders including prosopagnosia, tone-deafness, and dyslexia. Correlational evidence suggests that tone-deafness and dyslexia tend to co-occur, suggesting a link between these two developmental disorders. However, it is not known whether tone-deafness can also be associated with other developmental disorders such as impaired face recognition or prosopagnosia. We addressed this question by assessing face perception abilities in a group of tone-deaf individuals and matched non-tone-deaf subjects. The Cambridge (CFMT) and the Warrington (WRMT) face memory tests were used to assess face processing in the combined group of …

Effects Of A 60 Minute On Ice Game Simulation On The Balance Error Scoring System, Philip Cameron, Noelle C. Sotero, Justin Byers

Human Kinetics & Applied Health Sciences Student Works

Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) are common in contact sports. There is an association between mTBIs and altered motor function. BioSway technology measures individuals’ balance using the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS). Prior to incorporating BESS testing in concussion protocol, other variables that influence the BESS test require review. The objective of this study is to determine if game fatigue in hockey players also influences the BESS score. 23 male (21.08 ± 1.09) National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes were tested using the BioSway™ (Biodex, USA). The BESS test measures the Sway Index (SI) - a calculation of deviation from …

The Effects Of Resistance-Based Warm-Ups On Linear Speed And Power Output, Brock Baumgarn, Jackson Canfield, Chris Carroll

Human Kinetics & Applied Health Sciences Student Works

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the speed (yard/sec) and power (Inertial Power Units) of an athlete via the modalities of a 20-yard dash (yards/sec), a broad jump (m), and a portable conical pulley (CP) (VersaPulley, Santa Ana, CA; Inertia 0.27 kg· m2) device. Subjects were tested after completing resistance versus non- resistance based warm-ups. Research of overall effectiveness of warm-ups in direct correlation to athletic performance has been field-tested in a variety of different forms. This study was designed to create a baseline for each athlete and then take the same warm -up and by applying …

The Effects Of The Incentive Approach On Physical Activity And Sleep Utilizing Wearable Fitness Technology, Katie A. Schmidt, Courtney J. Sheets, Kassi A. Thiel, Morgan G. Wolf, Seth A. Paradis

Human Kinetics & Applied Health Sciences Student Works

PURPOSE: Wearable fitness technology (WFT) is a relevant tool in analyzing physical activity and sleep. Sleep and physical activity have symbiotic roles in maintaining wellness and returning the body to homeostasis. Currently, research is lacking in demonstrating effects of intensification on physical activity using WFT. This study analyzed the effects of incentivisation on physical activity and its relationship to sleep using the UP Jawbone. METHODS: 35 Bethel University students (16 males, 19 females) were recruited, ages 18-23 (20.49 years ± 1.44 years) and randomized into the control (17) or incentivized group (18). Sleep and physical activity data were recorded for …

The Effects Of Various Stretching Protocols On Rate Of Force Development In Collegiate Athletes, Brycen Wojta, Katie Lubben, Chris Carroll

Human Kinetics & Applied Health Sciences Student Works

PURPOSE: Stretching is part of a dynamic warm-up that is commonly used in preparation for a number of different sporting events. Previous research suggests that stretching may decrease musculotendinous stiffness which has a possibility to cause an increase in slack of the tendon, therefore, decreasing the speed of force from muscle to bone. The aim of this study was to was to assess three independent stretching protocols and their effect on the rate of force development. METHODS: Ten male and nine female subjects (20 3 years) from the Bethel University basketball teams participated in the study. Subjects were randomly assigned …

The Effects Of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Scapular Motor Control Intervention On The Rehabilitation Of Shoulder Impingement Syndrome, Madison R. Dorn, Rebekah R. Shindelar, Rick C. Hjelm, Seth A. Paradis

Human Kinetics & Applied Health Sciences Student Works

OBJECTIVE: Shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) accounts for 44-65% of total shoulder complaints. Previous research has analyzed the effectiveness of scapular-focused SIS treatment, but little research has been performed evaluating the effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) treatment. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of PNF scapular motor control intervention for SIS. METHODS: Patients from the Roseville Medical Center ages 18-64 were randomized to a PNF-treatment or control group to undergo a 4 to 6 week intervention. Prior to each visit, patients completed the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) functional survey and evaluated their …

The Effect Of Loaded Backpack Usage On Balance After A Functional Daily Stair Task, Shanni Moorse, Alyssa Haus, Seth A. Paradis

Human Kinetics & Applied Health Sciences Student Works

Backpack usage is common among many age groups, including college students. As students go about their daily routines, they may reach cardiorespiratory fatigue (CRF). CRF achieved via a treadmill workout has been shown to significantly increase body sway during balance tasks compared to pre- fatigue values. Additionally, it has been shown that increasing backpack loads decreases balance ability. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to combine these two ideas to assess the effect of loaded backpack usage on balance by quantitatively measuring balance after a functional daily stair task (FDST) designed to resemble CRF. METHODS: 7 male and 13 …

A Correlational Study Of Religiosity And Total Body Fat Composition In Collegiate Populations, Courtney Bostrum, Ryan Radtke, Seth A. Paradis

Human Kinetics & Applied Health Sciences Student Works

Previous research indicates rising levels of body fat composition in Americans. One contributing factor may be an individual’s degree of religiosity. Although not all, most studies have found religiosity to negatively impact body mass index (BMI) and obesity levels. Minimal research has been conducted regarding the relations between religiosity and body fat percentage. Not only do the overall increasing trends in body fat composition cost the American people between $48 and $68 billion per year in medical care, but excess body fat increases the risk for diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Religious factors have been shown to play a role …

Male And Female Parental Care In The Golden-Rumped Euphonia (Euphonia Cyanocephala), Zachary Wright, Jeff Port, Harold F. Greeney

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

A single nest of the Golden-rumped Euphonia (Euphonia cyanocephala) was filmed for 72 hours near the Yanayacu Biological Station in Ecuador located in tropical montane forest. Recording was between 15-21 February 2014. We report the first observations of incubation and feeding behavior by individual parents. We use the collected observations collected during the six day period after hatching to analyze visit frequency, duration, time, and activity patterns during visits. Both male and female visited at similar rates (mean male = 20.2 ± 1.8, mean female = 21.0 ± 1.3 visits/day) with an alternation of visits by members of the pair …

Neurotensin And Cholecystokinin Contract Gallbladder Circular Muscle In Chickens, Teresa F. Degolier, D. R. Brown, Gary E. Duke, M. M. Palmer, J. R. Swenson, Robert E. Carraway

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The contractile effects of neurotensin (NT) and cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) on isolated circular smooth muscle strips of chicken gallbladder were investigated. The NT (0.25-300 nM) produced concentration-dependent contractions on smooth muscle with an EC50 of 8.5 nM (95% confidence limits = 5.3-13.6 nM). In comparison, CCK-8 produced concentration-dependent contractions with an EC50 of 13 nM (95% confidence limits of 9-20 nM). There were no statistical differences in contractile responses when comparing NT and CCK-8 at equimolar concentrations. The NT appears to act directly on smooth muscle tissue in the chicken; the contractile responses were not blocked by 10 μM atropine …

Release Of Avian Neurotensin In Response To Intraluminal Contents In The Duodenum Of Chickens, Teresa F. Degolier, Robert E. Carraway

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Peripheral and hepatic-portal plasma levels of neurotensin (NT) in fed and fasted chickens were determined using RIA. Portal levels of NT1-13 (fed = 61.3 ± 3.9 fmol/mL; fasted = 44.5 ± 3.9 fmol/mL) were significantly higher than peripheral levels (fed = 8.2 ± 3.3 fmol/mL; fasted = 7.8 ± 3.0 fmol/mL) collected from the wing vein, indicating that some NT is metabolized in the liver. Portal plasma levels of NT collected from fed birds were also significantly higher than portal plasma levels of NT collected from fasted birds. Neurotensin, as identified by HPLC, exhibited a 2-fold increase in plasma extracts …

Constructing A Vector For Over Expressing Nitrobenzene Dioxygenase In E. Coli, Paul Davis

Honors Student Works

Due to extensive use of nitroaromatic compounds in the production of dyes, pesticides, explosives, and their harmful effects on the environment, studying the enzyme mechanisms of bacteria capable of utilizing these compounds as nutrient sources have become a recent field of development. One example, the Comamonas sp. strain JS765, grows on nitrobenzene as its sole carbon, nitrogen and energy source. This bacterium contains a nitrobenzene dioxygenase enzyme system that incorporates O2 into the nitrobenzene ring to form catechol and nitrite. In this project, the genes that code for the dioxygenase enzyme were cloned and then transformed into an expression vector …

Using Critical-Thinking Skills To Substantiate Or Challenge Controversial Claims Endorsing A Myriad Of Weight-Loss Products, Teresa F. Degolier

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

This exercise engages students in critically evaluating weight-loss products and programs. Specific objectives are to investigate, analyze, and substantiate claims made by the weight-loss industry and interpret how these claims may be fraudulent, misleading, or perhaps even truthful.

To Love Your Neighbor: A Christian Perspective On The Study Of Microbiology And Immunology, Joy Doan

Faith Learning Integration Papers

I have been blessed with enough of a sense of adventure to have experienced the awe-inspiring beauty of a rain forest at night, the top of Half Dome at Yosemite National Park, the sheer cliffs and rushing waters of the Narrows at Zion National Park, Plateau Point—which seems suspended in the Grand Canyon, and the top of a 14,000-foot peak in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. These are the types of places about which one of the characters in Robert Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance observes, “This is the hardest stuff in the world to photograph. You …