PERCEPTIONS AND VISUAL AWARENESS OF URBAN KARST FLOODING TO INFORM PREPAREDNESS PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT ACTIONS

Awareness and perception of flooding can heavily affect how an individual or community prepares for flooding. Flood awareness can be affected by factors like past flood experience and demographics. Flood experience and demographics can affect flood awareness differently based on factors including the types and cause of flooding. Flooding in karst landscapes can vary from other types of flooding and neither perception nor awareness of karst flooding has been directly studied before. This study explored both expert and non-expert flood awareness and perception and flood policies in a karst landscape through interviews with experts, surveys, and cognitive mapping activities. The purpose is to increase the understanding of flood awareness in karst environments. Warren County, Kentucky was used as a case study, because it is a developed karst landscape with frequent flooding issues. The survey responses indicated that low to medium level flood awareness exists in Warren County, though few participants made connections between the karst landscape and flooding. Flood experience, race, gender, age, and ownership status were not found to be statistically significantly connected to flood awareness. About a quarter of respondents were aware of flood policies and less than half felt the flood policies were effective. Recommendations included karst flood education, flood policy education, citizen engagement in flood monitoring, and more frequent flood policy updates

Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment and Dye Trace of War Fork River in Daniel Boone National Forest

Daniel Boone National Forest plays a key role in preserving much of Kentucky’s karst regions, natural resources including timber, mineral deposits, and biodiversity, including over 300 species of concern. The health of these environments is determined by surface and groundwater streams in the forest, and karst systems are an integral environment where these systems are active. War Fork, a tributary to the Kentucky River in Jackson County, Kentucky, is a remote and understudied hydrologic system in the Daniel Boone National Forest that contains recreational and logging land uses. Due to karst areas being susceptible to contamination because of rapid water recharge rates and collection of precipitation and streamflow from the surface, identifying locations where surface water and karst features converge can diagnose these indicators of vulnerability. In order to diagnose these direct indicators, GIS data was compiled to evaluate the many factors contributing to karst vulnerability. In order to better understand this vulnerability, a small-scale dye trace was completed using fluorescein dye in this region in order to track some of the karst groundwater flow paths. Three out of the four springs analyzed were confirmed to have a flow connection, asserting that there is prevalent vulnerability in this area. This model, reflected through the GIS data and dye trace data, confirms that vulnerable regions of this area, particularly near sinking streams and near in-cave epikarst recharge points. Recognizing these vulnerable hotspots is key to protecting these already sensitive environments from potential damage due to pollutants and can be brought into consideration when determining land management and use for karst regions

EmpowerHER: A Pilot Study to Increase Physical Activity and Strength Through Powerbuilding

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(8): 750-767, 2024. Engaging in empowering exercise develops movement competency (MC) and strength and supports physical health, mental well-being, and quality of life. Powerbuilding combines powerlifting and bodybuilding to increase physical activity (PA), MC, and strength. To our knowledge, powerbuilding has not been explored as an exercise intervention. This pilot study investigated the impact of an eight-week powerbuilding intervention on women’s PA, MC, strength, and empowerment. Eighteen women aged 25.1±9.8 with no powerbuilding experience participated in the intervention, meeting three times weekly for one hour. PA and MC were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Three-repetition maximum (3-RM) tests in the squat, bench press, and deadlift were completed in weeks one and eight of the intervention. Data were checked for normality; the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for non-normally distributed data. The McNemar test was used to analyze differences in dichotomous variables. Effect size was calculated and interpreted as follows small (r=0.1, d=0.2, ω=0.1), medium (r=0.3, d=0.5, ω=0.3), and large (r=0.5, d=0.8, ω=0.5) Total PA ([t(17)=3.52, p=0.003, d=0.83]) and participants who met the PA guidelines (Z=6.13, p=0.008, ω=0.82) increased significantly from pre- to post-intervention. Participants’ MC scores improved significantly from pre- (24.3±3.5) to post-intervention (29.5±2.5; [t(17)=10.04, pd=2.37]). Significant increases in strength were observed (squat [Z=-3.73, pr=0.88], bench press [Z=-3.73, pr=0.88], and deadlift [t(17)=16.41, pd=3.87]). Empowerment in exercise scores averaged 56.3±6.6 (on a scale of 5-65). The intervention significantly increased total PA, improved MC, increased strength, and facilitated empowerment. Women’s participation in powerbuilding may enhance their quality of life

The Influence of School Policies on Black Students\u27 Mental Health

When educators target Black students’ hair through school policies, they inadvertently target their racial identity, causing harm to their mental health (Joseph- Salisbury & Connelly, 2018). While previous research has looked at the relationship between a school’s racial climate and Black students’ mental health (Mattison & Aber, 2007), this research study explored the mental health of Black adults who have experienced racial discrimination or racial microaggressions, in relation to hair and dress codes, as Black students in the K-12 school system. A retrospective survey was used to explore the experiences that Black young adults had in the K-12 school system in relation to racial discrimination, microaggressions, dress codes, and mental wellbeing. Recommendations for schools and educators were provided about racial microaggressions and discrimination, and the steps schools can take to ensure the mental health of Black students and provide a safe, healthy environment for them

EFFECT OF POTASSIUM SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO ALTITUDE

L. Nelson, C. Brownell, K. Cook, E. Rhoads, K. Weigel, PL. Crosswhite Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA The pathophysiology of acute mountain sickness (AMS) is thought to be the result of abnormal water and sodium retention by the kidney, but the causal mechanisms are still largely unknown. Furthermore, there is limited research on AMS within an environmental chamber, which can control for confounding variables compared to field research with subjects exposed to the elements. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate potassium (K+) as a potential treatment for mitigating symptoms caused by AMS. METHODS: Six subjects (4 female and 2 male) recruited from the Gonzaga University student population completed two experimental trials. Prior to each trial, subjects supplemented with K+, or a placebo, for three days. The experimental trials included two hours inside an environmental chamber, with twenty-minute walking and sitting intervals on a treadmill. Blood was collected before and after subjects entered the chamber. RESULTS: The K+ supplement was effective, causing a significant increase in plasma potassium levels (placebo trial = 5.9 ± 3.0 mmol/L and K+ trial = 7.6 ± 1.2 mmol/L, p=.04). A weak but positive correlation was observed between pre and post Na+ and K+ plasma levels (r=0.207, p=0.695). Furthermore, plasma Na+ levels decreased more when participants supplemented with K+ (t = 0.28, p = 0.40). Using a modified Lake Louise assessment, 1/5 subjects diagnosed as positive AMS during the placebo trial, while 3/5 subjects diagnosed as positive AMS during the K+ trial. CONCLUSION: While K+ supplementation did achieve increased natriuresis, hyperkalemia is also known to have a direct stimulatory effect on aldosterone, which triggers increased sodium reabsorption and may lead to increased water retention. Our results suggest it may be beneficial to avoid excess consumption of electrolytes, especially ones containing high levels of K+, before ascending to altitude. However, the direct effects of K+ in the mechanism of AMS remains unclear

Biomechanical Assessment of Footwear and Foot Landing Types in Collegiate Female Runners at Preferred Running Speed

Barefoot and shod running with conditions at heel landing and forefoot landing has implications on running biomechanics. PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of two footwear and two foot landing type conditions on lower limb and lumbar acceleration and kinematics. METHODS: Six collegiate female runners (20.6 ± 1.5 yrs, 58.6 ± 4.7 kg, 1.63 ± 0.05 m) performed running trials on a motorized treadmill. Their averaging running volume was 49.6 ± 31.5 km/wk (range: 16.1 – 80.5 km/wk). Inertial measuring units (IMUs) (370 Hz), containing triaxial accelerometers (1g = 9.81 m/s/s) and gyroscopes (deg/s), were secured on the foot/shoe over the navicular bone, tibia, lateral thigh and lumbar region on the right side of the body. Runners performed steady-state runs at preferred speed during two shod conditions, barefoot (BF) and shod (SH), and two foot landing conditions, heel strike (HS) and forefoot (FF). A total of four conditions were assessed in this analysis. The average running speed was 10.3 ± 1.5 km/h (range: 8.9 – 12.9 km/h). Vertical acceleration data from the lumbar IMU was integrated to velocity, which was used to determine foot contact. Ten gait cycles per condition were determined. Data were resampled to 100 Hz and relative gait cycle (100%) was calculated. Variables of interest were: maximum acceleration at foot contact (FTA), timing of maximal foot acceleration (FTAt), maximum acceleration at the lumbar region (LA), timing of maximal acceleration at the lumbar region (LAt), greatest negative angular velocity of the lumbar region at foot landing (Lgy), and timing of the greatest negative angular velocity at foot landing (Lgyt). A 2 x 2 ANOVA was performed to assess the dependent variables. Alpha level was set at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: A significant foot landing x shod condition interaction effect was present for FTA (FF: BF 5.03 ± 0.8g, SH 4.80 ± 0.6g; HS: BF 4.81 ± 0.4g, SH 5.08 ± 0.5g, p \u3c 0.05). A significant main effect for shoe was present for FTAt (BF: 12.05 ± 2.6%, SH: 14.09 ± 3.1%, p \u3c 0.01). No significant differences were reported LA or LAt, however the landing x shoe interaction effect approached significance (p = 0.055). A significant main effect for landing was present for the Lgy (FF: -103.3 ± 38.1 deg/s, HS: -89.7 ± 43.4 deg/s, p \u3c 0.03). A significant landing x shoe interaction effect was present for the Lgyt (FF: BF 9.0 ± 1.5%, SH 6.63 ± 3.3%; HS: BF 6.17 ± 1.9%, SH 6.13 ± 2.0%, p \u3c 0.01). CONCLUSION: The combination of foot landing style and SH/BF indicated modified shock attenuation at foot landing while running at preferred speed. The timing of the shock was dependent upon whether running in shoes or barefoot, where the shoe extends the timing of the shock. Although shock and timing of shock to the lumbar region were not significant, the type of landing and the shoe did influence the rate at which the trunk negatively accelerated and the timing of this acceleration, respectively. Future studies need to assess how modifying running speed influences these variables

Factors Affecting Mental Health of College-Aged Individuals

College can be a trying time for many students, from the stresses of a new academic load to dealing with financial insecurities. This could be a time where mental health issues, like anxiety and depression, are first starting to emerge, and many look to find ways to cope that may not be beneficial. Previous research has looked at many factors individually as to what the underlying factors could be, but none examine the main factors, sleep, physical activity, social media, and digital technology, simultaneously and little is known about how these factors affect anxiety and depression, as well as the relationship they have with one another. This study examined the relationship between these factors on anxiety and depression, as well as one another. A high percentage of our study population (nearly 70%) exhibited symptoms indicative of depression. Regression analyses revealed that sleep was the strongest predictor of both depression and anxiety scores among college students, and social media addiction was a predictor of depression scores as well. In an effort to improve mental health amongst this population, interventions are needed to lessen social media and digital technology use, while improving sleep

Relationship Between Intestinal Permeability and Microvascular Responses in a High-risk Hispanic Population of the Rio Grande Valley

The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) has ~3x higher rates of diagnosed cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) than the US, which combine to be the leading cause of preventable death in the developed world. Microvascular blood flow (MBF) responses are an early indicator of vascular insulin resistance, and is blunted with obesity, T2D, and those at high risk for T2D. We have previously shown that apparently healthy people in the RGV display impaired MBF responses, helping explain the disparities noted with chronic disease. However mechanisms explaining this early vascular insulin resistance remain unexplored. Recent studies indicate that increased intestinal permeability promotes mechanisms for both CVD and T2D and may play a role in microvascular insulin resistance. PURPOSE: Identify relationships between markers of intestinal permeability (TMAO) and MBF responses in healthy people in the RGV. METHODS: Anthropomentrics were measured in17 healthy participants from the RGV (age: 25±6 yrs, BMI: 25±3 kg/m2, fat mass %: 29±9%, and android fat %: 31±10.4%) without hypertension, T2D, or dyslipidemia and were administered a mixed meal and oral glucose challenge (MMC and OGC) on two separate occasions, and asked to provide a 3-day food record to calculate macro and micronutrient intake. Blood samples and forearm skeletal muscle MBF (measured as acoustic intensity/second (AI/s)) were taken pre- and 1-hour postprandial via contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU). RESULTS: MBF responses did not differ between meal tests. ΔTMAO was associated with triglyceride (r=0.45, p\u3c0.05) and inversely correlated with ΔMBF in both skeletal muscle and adipose (r = -0.39 and -0.485 respectively; p\u3c0.05), while vitamin D intake, which promotes intestinal health, was inversely related to BMI, waist circumference, %fat, and %android fat (r= -0.385-0.474, -0.41, -0.45 respectively, p \u3c0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Residents of the RGV display microvascular insulin resistance as per a MMC. The inverse relationships between TMAO and MBF suggest increased intestinal permeability may mediate these vascular defects. Conversely, vitamin D intake may protect microvascular health via promotion of intestinal health. This is evidenced in part by the inverse relationships between vitamin D intake and body composition, most notably android fat which is exacerbated with increased intestinal permeability

Implementing meta-session autoregulation strategies for exercise- a scoping review

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(5): 382-404, 2024. Meta-session autoregulation, a person-adaptive form of exercise prescription that adjusts training variables according to daily fluctuations in performance considering an individual’s daily fitness, fatigue, and readiness-to-exercise is commonly used in sports-related training and may be beneficial for non-athlete populations to promote exercise adherence. To guide refinement of meta-session autoregulation, it is crucial to examine the existing literature and synthesize how these procedures have been practically implemented. Following PRIMSA guidelines a scoping review of two databases was conducted from August 2021 to September 2021 to identify and summarize the selected measures of readiness-to-exercise and decision-making processes used to match workload to participants in meta-session autoregulatory strategies, while also evaluating the methodological quality of existing study designs using a validated checklist. Eleven studies reported utilizing a form of meta-session autoregulation for exercise. Primary findings include: (i) readiness-to-exercise measures have been divided into either objective or subjective measures, (ii) measures of subjective readiness measures lacked evidence of validity, and (iii) fidelity to autoregulatory strategies was not reported. Results of the risk of bias assessment indicated that 45% of the studies had a poor-quality score. Existing implementations of meta-session autoregulation are not directly translatable for use in health promotion and disease prevention settings. Considerable refinement research is required to optimize this person-adaptive strategy prior to estimating effects related to exercise adherence and/or health and fitness outcomes. Based on the methodological deficits uncovered, researchers implementing autoregulation strategies would benefit reviewing existing models and frameworks created to guide behavioral intervention development

ISOMETRIC STRENGTH RATIOS DIFFER BETWEEN YOUTH BASEBALL PLAYERS WITH AND WITHOUT UPPER EXTREMITY PAIN

BACKGROUND: Up to 73% of youth baseball players report upper extremity pain throughout a season. Throwing shoulder isometric (ISO) strength ratios differ between softball pitchers with and without upper extremity pain; however, it is unknown if this is true in youth baseball athletes. This paper aimed to investigate the difference in throwing shoulder and bilateral hip rotational ISO strength ratios (internal (IR) and external (ER)) between youth baseball players with and without upper extremity pain. METHODS: Forty-eight youth baseball players (13.5±2.1yr, 57.7±12.5kg, 165.0±12.1cm) completed a health history survey indicating whether they experienced upper extremity pain. Those who answered ‘yes’ were placed in the pain group. Those who answered ‘no’ were placed in a pain-free group. Throwing shoulder and bilateral hip IR and ER ISO strength were recorded using a handheld dynamometer. For hip rotation strength testing, participants were seated with knees flexed to 90° and legs hanging off the table. For shoulder rotation strength testing, participants were lying supine with their throwing shoulder abducted to 90° and elbow flexed to 90°. Participants were instructed to perform two three-second maximal effort IR and ER ISO contractions into the dynamometer. Data were averaged for analysis. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) determined if hip and shoulder rotation strength ratios differed between groups. RESULTS: The one-way ANOVA revealed a significant difference based on pain-group membership (F1,45.6=5.23, p=.027) in stride hip ISO strength ratios, with those in pain having higher IR:ER ratios than those pain-free (1.34±0.33 vs. 1.11±0.36). No differences were present between groups in ISO strength ratios for the stance leg (F1,43.2=1.54, p=.22; pain = 1.00±0.15, pain-free = 0.99±0.19) or throwing shoulder (F1,43.8=2.16, p=.15; pain = 1.21±0.38, pain-free = 1.07±0.30). CONCLUSIONS: Youth baseball players with upper extremity pain have stride hip rotational ISO discrepancies, displaying an IR dominant ratio. Whereas those without upper extremity pain display a more balanced ISO ratio. Using stride hip ISO ratio as a screening test may assist clinicians in identifying players at risk of developing upper extremity pain in youth baseball. Additionally, an effort should be made in restoring imbalances in stride hip ISO strength, as it may be useful for reducing reported pain in this sample