Examining the Use of Two Novel Recovery Techniques on Reaction Time

Box Breathing is a breathing technique in which a person inhales, holds, exhales, and holds, in four-second increments. It is believed to help improve an individual\u27s focus. Purpose: This study was conducted to determine if Box Breathing would improve reaction time in lacrosse players after an exhaustive bout of exercise, compared to active recovery and passive recovery. Methods: Participants were familiarized with the components of the study, and then they returned on three separate days, approximately 2-10 days apart for three additional testing visits. Participants performed a 10-minute exhaustive bout of exercise on a cycle ergometer, then performed one of three recovery methods—passive recovery, active recovery, and Box Breathing—on separate days. Following the recovery bout, participants performed the ruler drop test to measure their reaction time. Nine participants (male n=6, female n=3) completed the study. Results: There were no significant differences in reaction time across conditions, passive recovery (359.6 ± 118.9 mm), active recovery (351.1 ± 111.0 mm), and Box Breathing (364.9 ± 92.8 mm). However, there were differences in the percentages of times the participants failed to catch the ruler (counted as drops ). Specifically, Box Breathing resulted in the highest (28.9%) number of drops whereas active recovery resulted in the fewest (10%). Conclusions: Box Breathing does not appear to improve reaction time following an exhaustive bout of exercise when compared to traditional recovery techniques

Material Characterization for Industrial Processes of Thin Titanium Nanotube Films

Material characterization is an important step in the experimental processes. This step ensures that the samples\u27 processing yields the intended results. This work outlines the process taken to analyze and characterize a set of industrial thin films. Our characterization starts with an elemental baseline from scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The composition is verified by SimNRA (Simulation Nuclear Reaction Analysis) calculations fitting Rutherford Backscattering (RBS) data collected from a silicon surface barrier (particle) detector

Lysine 473 Regulates the Activity and Trafficking of the Cystine/Glutamate Transporter, System x\u3csub\u3ec\u3c/sub\u3e\u3csup\u3e-\u3c/sup\u3e

System xc- is a membrane transport system that plays a critical role in mitigating oxidative stress. Past work in our lab has shown that System xc- localizes to the plasma membrane allowing for increased activity to support production of antioxidants during oxidative stress. In this study, we sought to determine if post-translational modification (PTM) of the transporter regulates its trafficking. A C-terminal 3KR mutant (K422,472,473R) exhibited decreased membrane localization and activity, suggesting that PTM at one of these sites increases activity. Further, we observed that K473R exhibits a 7 kD decrease in the molecular weight, indicating that K473 may be modified under basal conditions. We determined that this loss in molecular weight is not due to ubiquitination. In addition, we found that K473R exhibited complete loss of xCT activity and loss of membrane expression. K473Q, an acetylated lysine mimic, appears to lead to an intermediate molecular weight loss, an intermediate level of membrane expression, and complete loss of xCT activity. We are currently working to identify the PTMs that K473 acetylation might regulate. Regardless, these preliminary data suggest that acetylation at K473 could serve as a potential mechanism by which System xc- activity and trafficking is regulated

Beyond Ethnicity: Perceptions of Racial Identity Among Latina/o/x Students at an HWCU

The Latino population in the United States has grown significantly, contributing to 52% of the nation\u27s population growth in the past decade, according to the Pew Research Center. While research often focuses on the Latino population’s ethnicity, it often overlooks the diverse spectrum of racial identities within this community, leading to a homogenized understanding of their experiences. This study challenges this by examining how Latina/o/x students at Hope, categorized as White-identifying (WI), non-White-identifying (NWI), and international students (IS), perceive their racial identity in the context of privilege, racism, colorism, and belonging. Our total sample is 55 students (20 WI, 20 NWI, and 15 IS), but this presentation is based on an initial analysis of 25 coded interviews (10 WI, 10 NWI, and 5 IS). An additional 30 interviews are currently being transcribed and organized. This study aims to shed light on the complexities of racial identity and belonging within the Latino community at Hope College, offering valuable insights for fostering a more inclusive campus environment

Examining Regression Assumption Violations in Machine Learning Models Using the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study Dataset

A growing practice within the psychological sciences is a reliance on machine learning models for data analysis. Machine learning models may have profound implications for improving human well-being and health (e.g., Walsh et al., 2017). However, like any statistical model, machine learning requires that the assumptions of linear regression are met, though the implications of violating these assumptions in machine learning models are unknown. Our study investigates these potentially stark consequences by testing machine learning models in simulated data with built-in assumption violations, as well as a publicly available dataset. We hypothesize that when regression assumptions are violated, we will fail to replicate findings in public and simulated datasets, thus increasing risk for Type I/II errors. After conducting a search for a large (N \u3e 2,000) public dataset with a robust literature, we selected the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS) as our public dataset of interest. We replicated findings from Clark and Lee (2021), who studied how both early- and later-life variables correlate with later-life subjective well-being. We replicated their published findings and used three common supervised learning models: regularized regression, support vector machine, and random forest. Understanding the consequences of assumption violations in machine learning can enhance the replicability of these models. If linear assumptions are violated, we expect the risk of false positive/negative outcomes to increase. We envision that these discoveries will offer valuable guidance to psychological researchers employing machine learning techniques

β-decay Strength Function of 53Ni and 52Co

The p process is believed to be responsible for the formation of heavy proton-rich nuclei in the universe. This work deals with the decay of two nuclei that are part of the p process, 53Ni and 52Co. β+ decays for each isotope were recorded with the Summing NaI(Tl) detector at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. A preliminary β-decay Intensity Function was derived with Total Absorption Spectroscopy. Total energy spectra, β-particle spectra, individual γ-energy spectra, and multiplicity spectra for the decay to levels in the child nucleus were modeled with GEANT4 based on information from the National Nuclear Data Center. The experimentally measured spectra, when fit with the simulated spectra, give the probability that a particular child level is populated during decay. Refined results, when compared to theory, will provide insight into the formation of p-nuclei elements

Quality of Health, Physical Activity, and Exercise in Former College Athletes Post-Sport: A Systematic Review

A surplus of modern research in the field of sports science has yielded that, despite their immense athletic and physically active background, former college athletes tend to be less well off in aspects of fitness, and exercise than their non-athlete counterparts. These previous findings have led to further exploration of the question: what is the quality of health, physical activity, and exercise in former college athletes post-sport? Using a systematic approach based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, this review explored three online databases (PubMed, SportDiscus, and PsychInfo) to collect peer-reviewed articles regarding this question. The original search began in the Fall of 2023 using combinations of eight key terms (e.g., athlete , sport ) and 13 secondary terms (e.g., retirement , graduation ). The initial search yielded a total of 14,664 articles. Following the removal of duplicate articles, title and abstract screenings, and initial read-throughs of articles, 32 articles are currently being examined in full. Upon further analysis, the final results will be presented at CURCA 2024. Results from this review will be utilized to further understand the field in this topic and guide future directions of behavioral intervention development for retiring college athletes

Does it Pay to Play? A Dyadic Study Exploring Familial Investment in Organized Youth Sport

Parents play an important role in the youth sport experience for their child (Bonavolontá, 2021). Two ways that parental investment is evident in youth sport is through parental support and parental pressure. Parental support has been linked to child-athlete enjoyment and enthusiasm in the youth sport setting (Gagné, 2003), whereas heightened stress and anxiety for the child-athlete have been associated with parental pressure (Gould, 2008; O\u27Rourke, 2011). Recent literature has explored family investment in youth sport (fiscal) and discovered that greater investment is associated with greater perceived parental pressure on the athlete, while also showing a decline in the athlete\u27s commitment and enjoyment to their sport (Dunn, 2016). Our study aims to explore fiscal and time investment, while additionally integrating a measure for emotional investment, and incorporating the updated Sport Commitment-2 Questionnaire (Scanlan, 2016). The purpose of this study was to examine how families invest (fiscally, in terms of time, and emotionally) in organized youth sport participation. We hypothesized that the greater amounts of parental investment are present, the less the child-athlete will be committed to sport and enjoy sport, and the more likely the child will experience burnout. In the parent survey, parents responded to demographic information and investment-related questions, such as the time spent at practices and tournaments, yearly family fiscal earnings and the amount of money spent yearly on youth sport, and the Parental Involvement in Sports Questionnaire (PISQ) to explore emotional investment. Athletes (12-19 years old) provided demographic information and completed three established measures: Sport Commitment-2 Questionnaire, Parental Involvement in Activities Scale, and Athlete Burnout Questionnaire. The study is currently in the middle of the data collection phase and the findings are eagerly anticipated

Unveiling Sensory Gaps: A Study on Zebrafish Alanine Taste Blindness and the Consequential Neurotoxic Impact on Dopaminergic Neurons in Motor Regions

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by deficits in motor functions including loss of coordination and hypertonia. Dopaminergic (DA) neuronal death is found in the substantia nigra and reward centers of the brain in PD patients. Smell loss is also associated with patients with PD as DA neurons are found in the Olfactory Bulb (OB), the brain structure that processes odor signals. We use zebrafish as a model to study neurodegenerative diseases, including PD, as they can regenerate neurons throughout their lifespan. We have established a model to study DA loss in the zebrafish olfactory system. To do this, a dopaminergic neurotoxin, 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) is injected into the third ventricle. Using this model, we found no differences in the ability to detect alanine in 6-OHDA groups. This finding prompted the question of whether fish may taste the odorant, alanine that is used in the behavioral chamber to assess olfactory function. To test this, we rendered the fish anosmic by occluding the nostrils with adhesive to assess the gustatory response to alanine. We observed no significant response to alanine, implying that zebrafish behavioral responses to alanine are not dependent on taste. Notably, 6-OHDA-injected fish exhibited a substantial increase in swimming speed, prompting an investigation into potential damage to other brain structures. Counting DA neuronal populations in motor centers using immunohistochemistry on a confocal microscope revealed a trend in DA neuron damage after 6-OHDA lesion, which could explain swimming abnormalities. Future research should further explore the effects of neuronal degeneration to offer insights into therapeutic remedies for PD

The Effects of Vasopressin on Aquaporin-1 Expression and Localization in the Presence and Absence of VACM-1/Cul5

The vasopressin-activated calcium mobilizing (VACM-1/Cul-5) protein plays a role in the E3 ubiquitin ligase system which is involved in the destruction of specific proteins. Our focus is on the impact that the (VACM-1/Cul-5) protein has on other proteins\u27 expression and localization within human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). One of the proteins of interest to us is aquaporin-1 (AQP1). AQP1 is a water transporter that impacts cell growth and angiogenesis. To evaluate how the presence of VACM-1/Cul5 impacts AQP1, cells with and without the VACM-1/Cul5 gene are analyzed in the presence of increased vasopressin. VACM-1/Cul5 is knocked out of the genome using CRISPR. Results were analyzed using immunostaining to determine the concentration and localization of AQP1. The immunostaining process involves incubating treated cells with fluorescent antibodies that attach to AQP1. Preliminary results are inconclusive with respect to the impact of knocking out VACM-1 on AQP1 expression