Life Sciences Commons^™

Mining 30 Years Of Conifer Records At The Baker Arboretum, Monika Decker

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Only limited data had been published on the survivability of specimens within public gardens. This may be due to not enough data collected or how vast the plant selections are in the gardens. The Baker Arboretum has collected data by accessioning plant collections over a period of 30 years. The Baker Arboretum has its specimens GIS mapped on the 115-acre property for easy location and detection of the the woody ornamental plants. However, little research is available to understand which coniferous specimens have the best success in the garden. In this study, six separate binomial logistic regressions were run to …

Evaluation Of Supplementing Whole Cottonseed Within Feedlot Rations During The Stockerphase Of Production With The Goal Of Increasing Average Daily Gain, Emily Lauren Cook

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Beef calves are weaned at 6-months of age and enter the stocker phase of beef production. Stocker producers have the primary goal of adding weight inexpensively to increase profit on weaned calves. Whole cottonseed is an inexpensive feed ingredient that is popularly top-dressed within dairy and finishing beef diets and is high in protein and energy. During three periods lasting 50-days (fall 2019, fall 2020, and spring 2020), freshly weaned calves were placed on a finishing ration with the goal of increasing average daily gain. Base rations were calculated at 25% tall fescue hay, 23% corn, and 52% distillers’ solubles. …

Visible Light Generation And Mechanistic Investigation Of High-Valent Metal-Oxo Species Supported By Different Ligands, Seth Ellis Klaine

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Numerous transition metal catalysts have been designed as biomimetic model compounds for the active site of metalloenzymes found throughout Nature, most notably cytochrome P450 monooxygenases that carry out the oxidative transformations of organic substrates with near-perfect chemo-, regio-, and stereo-selectivity. The primary active oxidants in catalytic and enzymatic cycles are fleeting high-valent metal-oxo intermediates where the oxo ligand can transfer to an organic substrate in a process known as oxygen atom transfer (OAT).

In the present work, porphyrin-manganese(III), salen-chromium(III), and salenmanganese( III) derivatives were successfully synthesized and spectroscopically characterized using 1H NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopies. A facile photochemical approach was …

Effects Of Solid Matrix One-Step Planting Practice On Cool Season Turfgrass Germination In Unfavorable Conditions, Ben Duncan

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The transition zone in the United States is a difficult area to grow and establish turfgrasses. To establish or repair damaged turfgrass areas, seed priming is an often-used practice. Turfgrass companies and researchers are expanding the practice of solid matrix priming to the practice of one step planting. These products contain seed, fertilizers, and often some type of inert matter and/or mulch. This study took place in Bowling Green, KY and Knoxville, TN during the same period to investigate the effects of using these one step planting products compared to standard cool season turfgrass seeding practices. Two Pennington and two …

Effect Of Supplemental Garlic On The Incidence Of Anemia In Horses, Victoria Willis

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a spice that has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes or flavoring in food. Garlic has also been commonly used as a fly and pest control for horses and is still commonly used for that purpose today. Recent research has shown garlic may cause Heinz body anemia in horses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of Heinz body anemia in horses supplemented with varying rates of garlic. This study included 12 horses divided into 4 groups (control and 3 supplement rates: low (0.0625 g/kg), medium (0.125 g/kg), high (0.1875 g/kg)) …

Social Engagement Of Nursing Home Residents: A Comparison Of Two Observation Methods, Annika Gabbard

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In Kentucky, low levels of physical activity and social engagement negatively impact health. This problem led to the creation of Bingocize®, an exercise program that combines the game of Bingo with intermittent exercises in a group setting to increase levels of positive affect, physical health, and, the focus of this study, social engagement. Since clear benefits of social engagement have been established, measurement and documentation of this behavior can assist in determining the level of potential benefit from Bingocize®. The purpose of this study was to compare the opinions of healthcare workers who have experience with Bingocize® on two measures …

The Influence Of Prenatal Yoga On Mental Health In Pregnancy During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Cathryn Duchette

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic poses risks to the mental health of expecting mothers as studies have demonstrated increased levels of stress and anxiety for new and expectant mothers during the pandemic. Prenatal yoga has been shown to be effective for improving mental health during pregnancy, but no research has been done to determine its effect on mental health during a pandemic. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of a 10-week prenatal yoga intervention on the mental health of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Baseline levels of anxiety and depression were high, with an average depression score …

Serve-Specific Core Self-Evaluations: A Predictive Validation Study, Brandi Renee Forgione

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Core Self-Evaluations (CSE) is a broad personality trait used by industrial organizational psychologists to predict important organizational outcomes such as job performance and employee satisfaction. CSE comprises four elements: generalized self-efficacy, self-esteem, locus of control, and neuroticism. Task-specific versions of CSE have been proposed to better predict task-specific performance than general CSE. Accordingly, Serve-Specific Core Self- Evaluations (SS-CSE) was adapted specifically to predict serve performance of intercollegiate volleyball players. In this study, I explored the predictive validity of SS-CSE for serve performance by expanding a previous study that used a concurrent validation approach. Results indicated that SS-CSE scores collected pre-season …

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 17: More On The South Asian Connection, Charles H. Smith

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

During his school years the arts and cultural historian and metaphysician Ananda Coomaraswamy (1877-1947) was clearly influenced by Alfred Russel Wallace, and is known later to have corresponded with, and supplied information to, him. Up to now the connections involved had been obscure, but a new investigation suggests that Wallace had previously interacted with Ananda’s mother and/or father.

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 16: The Flexible Wallace, Charles H. Smith

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Alfred Russel Wallace (1823−1913), though a naturalist of considerable renown, has sometimes been accused of inflexibility and inconsistency in his thinking. Many of his critics, however, ignore his basic approach to knowledge accumulation, which was explicitly incremental, based on a perceived need for constant reconsideration. Here, I: (1) identify five groups of Wallace critics who seem to be operating with prior agendas, and (2) provide lists of subjects on which he either changed his mind, or remained constant, according to individual situation.

Becoming One With Nature: A Nature Intervention For Individuals Living With Cancer Participating In A Ten-Week Group Exercise And Wellness Program, Samantha L. Morris, Ian Newhouse, Tracey Larocque, Kelly-Jo Gillis, Leanne Smith, Elizabeth K. Nisbet

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(3): 498-518, 2021. Positive outcomes for psychological and physiological health have resulted from a nature experience. However, evidence is limited for nature-based interventions and their effect on a cancer population. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to determine if incorporating the One Nature Challenge (ONC) into a ten-week group exercise program (WE-Can) for individuals living with cancer could offer additional psychological and/or physiological benefits to those previously observed in WE-Can. For this study, two separate ONCs were implemented throughout two seasons (summer and winter) to formulate a ONC group (n = 18; 60 ± …

Leucine Supplementation Does Not Improve Muscle Recovery From Resistance Exercise In Young Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Crossover Study, Jeferson L. Jacinto, João Pedro Nunes, Alex S. Ribeiro, Juliano Casonato, Mirela C. Roveratti, Bruna N. S. Sena, Edilson S. Cyrino, Rubens A. Da Silva, Andreo F. Aguiar

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(2): 486-497, 2021. This study aimed to investigate the effects of free leucine supplementation on muscle recovery from resistance exercise (RE) in young adults. Fourteen untrained subjects (23.9 ± 3.6 years old) underwent RE sessions (leg press and hack squat: three sets of 8-12 reps at 70% 1RM) supplemented with leucine (LEU: two daily doses of 3g) or a placebo (PLA), separated by a seven-day washout period. Following each occasion, participants were evaluated in three subsequent days (24h, 48h, and 72h) for muscle recovery via a repetition-to-failure test. The following markers were assessed: repetition performance, …

Transversus Abdominis And Lumbar Multifidus Thickness Among Three Dance Positions In Argentine Tango Dancers, Eleni Gouridou, Eleftherios Kellis, Ermioni Katartzi, Nikolaos Kofotolis

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(1): 473-485, 2021. Core muscle function is considered a risk factor for low back pain appearance in dancers. The purpose of this study was to examine the transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus thickness among Argentine Tango dancers in different functional dance positions. A secondary purpose was to compare muscle thickness at rest and contraction between dancers and untrained participants. Ten trained dancers and ten untrained women aged 33.8 ± 6.09 years participated in this study. Using ultrasonography, the transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus muscle thickness were measured at rest and during contraction in three different …

Comparison Of Countermovement And Squat Jumps Performance In Recreationally Trained Males, Paul Donahue, Samuel Wilson, Charles Williams, Christopher Hill, John Garner

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(1): 462-472, 2021. The vertical jump has been shown to be an effective tool in assessing neuromuscular fatigue. The two most common iterations of the vertical jump are the countermovement and squat jumps. This investigation sought to identify if differences exist between the two jumping strategies with regard to electromyography (EMG) and kinetics in a group of recreationally trained males. Twenty-two participants completed one experimental session, where three countermovement (CMJ) and three squat jumps (SJ) were performed using a counterbalanced within-subject design. Jump performance was evaluated with data obtained using a force platform. Additionally, EMG …

Effect Of Neck Strength On Simulated Head Impacts During Falls In Female Ice Hockey Players, Brittany Pennock, Derek Kivi, Carlos Zerpa

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(1): 446-461, 2021. This study examined the effect of isometric cervical strength and impact location of the hockey helmet in mitigating the risk of concussions for two different mechanisms of injury from a fall during head impact simulation testing. Isometric cervical strength was measured on 25 female hockey players to compute and model neck strength on a mechanical neckform. A dual-rail vertical drop system with a helmet mounted on a surrogate headform simulated the mechanisms of injury causing concussions on female ice hockey players. Measures of peak linear acceleration and risk of injury due to …

An Assessment Of Mobile Applications Designed To Address Physical Activity During Pregnancy And Postpartum, Rachel A. Tinius, Mackenzie Polston, Hannah Bradshaw, Paula Ashley, Ashley Greene, Angel Parker

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(7): 382-399, 2021. Only 15% of women meet physical activity guidelines during and after pregnancy despite the well-established positive impacts on both the mother and the neonate. There is a clear lack of guidance on this topic, and mobile health interventions are a promising direction for future interventions to facilitate a necessary increase in physical activity during pregnancy and postpartum. The purpose of the study was to objectively assess the quality and perceived impact of existing free mobile apps that are designed to cover physical activity during and after pregnancy. The Mobile Application Rating Scale …

Fluid Loss In Recreational Surfers, Jessica Atencio, Richard Armenta, Jeff A. Nessler, Matt Schubert, James Furness, Michael Climstein, Leon Mach, Sean Newcomer

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(6): 423-434, 2021. Surfing offers unique challenges to thermoregulation and hydration. The purpose of this study was to quantify fluid loss in recreational surfers, and to analyze the effects of water temperature, air temperature, exercise intensity, duration, and garment thickness on the total amount of fluid lost during a surf session. A total of 254 male and 52 female recreational surfers were recruited from San Diego, Costa Rica, and Australia to participate in the study. Participants’ hydration status was assessed by comparing nude body mass pre- and post-surf session. Heart rate (HR), used as an …

Does Resistance Training With Blood Flow Restriction Affect Blood Pressure And Cardiac Autonomic Modulation In Older Adults?, Karynne Grutter Lopes, Paulo Farinatti, Daniel Alexandre Bottino, Maria Das Graças Souza, Priscila Alves Maranhão, Eliete Bouskela, Roberto Alves Lourenço, Ricardo Brandão Oliveira

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(3): 410-422, 2021. Resistance training (RT) with blood flow restriction (BFR) appears to accelerate muscle hypertrophy and strength gains in older populations. However, the training-related effects of RT with BFR upon blood pressure (BP) and cardiac autonomic modulation in the elderly remains unclear. The objective of this study is to compare the chronic effects of low-intensity RT performed with soft BFR (BFR) vs. high-intensity (HI) and low-intensity RT (CON) without BFR on BP and heart rate variability (HRV) indices in older adults. Thirty-two physically inactive participants (72 ± 7 yrs) performed RT for upper and …

Postpartum Exercise Intervention Targeting Diastasis Recti Abdominis, Faith C. Laframboise, Rebecca A. Schlaff, Meghan Baruth

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(3): 400-409, 2021. To examine the effectiveness of an online, 12-week exercise intervention on diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) width and negatively associated health outcomes (i.e. weight and core function). Non-pregnant women who were 6-24 months postpartum and ≥ 18 years of age completed the study. Participants (n = 8) were randomized to intervention (exercise) or control groups; with the intervention group completing three exercise sessions per week virtually. Both groups completed three surveys at baseline, 6-weeks, and 12-weeks. DRA width was measured with nylon calipers at baseline and 12-weeks. Repeated measures analysis of covariance …

Effects Of Caffeine On Exercise Duration, Critical Velocity, And Ratings Of Perceived Exertion During Repeated-Sprint Exercise In Physically Active Men, Jesse A. Stein, Heath Gasier, Blake Goodman, Melitza Ramirez, Blanca Delatorre, Cassandra Beattie, Thomas J. Barstow, Katie Heinrich

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(2): 435-445, 2021. Caffeine improves short-to-moderate distance running performance, but the effect of caffeine on repeated sprints are equivocal. This research determined if caffeine improved exercise tolerance during repeated-sprint exercise. iCV is a running velocity that distinguishes intermittent running velocities (velocities ≤ iCV) that are sustainable from those resulting in a predictable time to exhaustion (velocities > iCV). Seven physically active men (age = 21.6 ± 1.5 years, body mass = 72.8 ± 5.1 kg, VO_2max = 56.9 ± 9.8 mL/kg/min) ingested caffeine (5 mg/kg) or placebo (crossover design) 60 min prior to an intermittent …

The 6-Week Effects Of Hiit On Biomarkers Of Tissue And Oxidative Damage In Wistar Rats Previously Supplemented With Pyridoxine, Jéssica Danielle Matos, Felipe J. Aidar, Dihogo Gama De Matos, José Uilien De Oliveira, Ailton Santos Sena Júnior, Jymmys Lopes Dos Santos, Anderson Carlos Marçal, Silvan Silva De Araújo

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(7): 369-381, 2021. We aimed to analyze the effects of long high-intensity interval training (HIIT) associated with pyridoxin supplementation on tissue and oxidative injury markers in animals. Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups (n = 8): sedentary (GS), HIIT (GH), and HIIT + pyridoxine (GHP). The HIIT comprised 18 sessions of 7 repetitions of 2min × 2min rest, 3 times per week. Pyridoxine was administered to the GHP group 1h before the exercise. The Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and sulfhydryl group (SH) were analyzed as markers of oxidative stress and CK, LDH, …

Ordinal Statistical Models Of Physical Activity Levels From Accelerometer Data, Shafayet S. Hossain, Drew M. Lazar, Munni Begum

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(7): 338-357, 2021. Improvements in accelerometer technology has led to new types of data on which more powerful predictive models can be built to assess physical activity. This paper explains and implements ordinal random forest and partial proportional odds models which both take into account the ordinality of responses given explanatory accelerometer data. The data analyzed comes from 28 adults performing activities of daily living in two visits while wearing accelerometers on the ankle, hip, right and left wrist. The first visit provided training data and the second testing data so that an independent sample, …

Skilled Throwing Performance: A Test Of The Optimal Theory, Jacquelyn V.L. Sertic, Jason M. Avedesian, James W. Navalta

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(5): 358-368, 2021. The OPTIMAL theory of motor learning postulates that autonomy support (AS), enhanced expectancies (EE), and an external focus of attention (EF) facilitate improved motor learning and performance. However, its applicability to elite-level throwing athletes has not been investigated by previous literature. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the successive implementation of AS, EE, and EF factors on overhand throwing performance in elite collegiate softball athletes (14.44 ± 2.75 years of softball experience). The secondary purpose was to determine whether self-efficacy beliefs would be augmented by factor manipulation. Twenty-four participants …

Physical And Lifestyle Factors Influencing Bone Density In Jockeys: A Comprehensive Update Of The Bone Density Status Of Irish Jockeys, Arthur Dunne, Giles Warrington, Adrian Mcgoldrick, Jennifer Pugh, Michael Harrison, Siobhan O'Connor, Gillian O'Loughlin, Sarahjane Cullen

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(6): 324-337, 2021. Compromised bone density in jockeys has previously been identified as an important health and safety concern in horseracing. Despite this, no update on the bone density status in Irish jockeys has been provided in the past decade. The study aimed to conduct a comprehensive update of the current bone density status in professional Irish jockeys and identify possible contributory physical and lifestyle factors. Eighty-five professional male jockeys (flat n = 39; national hunt (NH) n = 46) completed a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan for the assessment of body composition and bone …

Effects Of A Vibrating Foam Roller On Ipsilateral And Contralateral Neuromuscular Function And The Hamstring-To-Quadriceps Ratios, Rachel M. Ruggieri, Jared W. Coburn, Andrew J. Galpin, Pablo B. Costa

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(1): 304-323, 2021. The effects of vibrating foam rolling the hamstrings on range of motion (ROM), hamstrings-to-quadriceps (H:Q) ratios, muscle activation, and peak torque (PT) of the quadriceps and hamstrings have yet to be extensively studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a vibrating foam roller on the hamstrings. Fifteen resistance trained women (mean age ± SD = 22.9 ± 2.0 years, height = 162.7 ± 4.8 cm, body mass = 66.0 ± 9.7 kgs, BMI = 24.9 ± 3.3 kg·m²) participated in five separate testing sessions to …

Estimating The Lactate Threshold Using Wireless Near-Infrared Spectroscopy And Threshold Detection Analyses, Trent E. Cayot, Shara G. Robinson, Lindsay E. Davis, Paul A. Bender, John R. Thistlethwaite, Craig E. Broeder, Jakob D. Lauver

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(4): 284-294, 2021. The present investigation examined the ability of two threshold detection analyses (maximum distance, Dmax; modified maximum distance, mDmax) in identifying the near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) threshold, a lactate threshold (LT) estimate, from exercising tissue oxygen saturation (StO₂) responses. Additionally, the test-retest reliability of exercising StO₂ and total hemoglobin concentration (THC) responses were examined at moderate and peak cycling intensities. Fourteen healthy, recreationally active participants performed maximal incremental step cycling tests (+25 W / 3 minutes) to volitional fatigue on two separate occasions while StO₂ and THC of the vastus …

Different Cooling Strategies Applied During Inter-Set Rest Intervals In High-Intensity Resistance Training, Gilmar J. Esteves, Renato A. Garcia, Paulo H. S. M. Azevedo

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(2): 295-303, 2021. The purpose of this study was to verify whether cooling between sets during high-intensity resistance exercise improves physical performance and to compare performance among different sites of cooling. It is important because delaying the muscular fatigue could improve total volume at a training session which could lead to greater hypertrophy. Nine healthy and recreational resistance training experienced men, performed six tests of a biceps curl exercise on different days. The first test was the one-repetition maximum test (1RM). Following, we applied five sessions, in crossover and randomized (counter-balanced) design. The subjects received …

Acute Effects Of Foam Rolling On Cycling Performance: A Randomized Cross-Over Study, Julio Benvenutti Bueno De Camargo, Paulo Henrique Barbosa, Matheus Moraes, Tiago Volpi Braz, Felipe Alves Brigatto, Danillo Rodrigues Batista, Guilherme Businari, Charlini Hartz, Ricardo Simoes, Marcelo Saldanha Aoki, Charles Ricardo Lopes

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(6): 274-283, 2021. Acute foam rolling protocols may increase range of motion without a negative impact on muscle performance. The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the acute effects of foam rolling on cycling performance (mean power and maximal power), affect and perceived exertion. A secondary aim was to assess the effect of foam rolling on post-exercise muscle soreness. In a random order, ten recreationally trained cyclists (age: 26 ± 5 years; height 1.76 ± 0.06 m; total body mass 78.3 ± 19.8 kg; cycling experience: 5.6 ± 5.3 years; 4.1 ± …

Evaluating The Clinical Utility Of Daily Heart Rate Variability Assessment For Classifying Meaningful Change In Testosterone-To-Cortisol Ratio: A Preliminary Study, Justin A. Deblauw, Derek A. Crawford, Brady K. Kurtz, Nicholas B. Drake, Katie M. Heinrich

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(3): 260-273, 2021. The study purpose was to determine the relationship of resting heart rate variability (HRV) and testosterone to cortisol (T:C) ratio, along with the diagnostic ability of HRV to assess changes in T:C ratio during a 9-week high-intensity functional training intervention. Eight recreationally-active men (n = 4, age 24.25 ± 1.75 yrs, height 181.25 ± 3.86 cm, weight 79.68 ± 11.66 kg) and women (n = 4, age 26 ± 3.6 yrs, height 164.25 ± 3.3, weight 73.4 ± 8.42) completed daily HRV measurements (HRVdaily) using photoplethysmography via a commercially-available smartphone …

The Influence Of Education On The Nutritional Knowledge Of Certified Fitness Professionals, Bridget F. Melton, Joelle Romanchik-Cerpovicz, Greg A. Ryan, Catherine Gallagher

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(4): 239-249, 2021. The American Fitness Industry has seen progressive success with recent increases in facility memberships and annual revenues of fitness centers. The number of fitness trainers and instructors in the United States has persisted this growth and is projected to grow over the next decade. However, only a few known studies have investigated the nutritional education of fitness professionals. This preliminary study explores the education and knowledge among certified fitness professions (CFPs) in the United States. A cross-sectional, descriptive survey design was utilized with a convenience sample of 120 female participants from the …