Electrically-evoked Referred Sensations Induce Embodiment of Rubber Limb

Introduction: Electrical stimulation is increasingly relevant in a variety of medical treatments. In this study, the quality of referred sensations evoked using surface electrical stimulation was evaluated using the rubber hand and foot illusions. Methods: The rubber hand and foot illusions were attempted under 4 conditions: (1) multi-location tapping; (2) one-location tapping; (3) electrical stimulation of sensation referred to the hand or foot; (4) asynchronous control. The strength of each illusion was quantified using a questionnaire and proprioceptive drift, where a stronger response suggested embodiment of the rubber limb. Results: 45 able-bodied individuals and two individuals with amputations participated in this study. Overall, the illusion evoked by nerve stimulation was not as strong as illusions evoked by physically tapping but stronger than the control illusion. Conclusion: This study has found that the rubber hand and foot illusion can be performed without touching the distal limb of the participant. Electrical stimulation that produced referred sensation in the distal extremity was realistic enough to partially incorporate the rubber limb into a person’s body image

Impact of Mask Wearing on Post-Exercise Hemodynamics

As the guidelines regarding COVID-19 regressed, many fitness centers established regulations requiring mask-wearing during exercise. Data suggest that the impact of a mask during exercise has minimal effects on exercise hemodynamics. The post-exercise period has been described as a window of opportunity to lower blood pressure, a phenomenon called post-exercise hypotension. The impact of wearing a mask on post-exercise hemodynamics is unknown. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of mask-wearing during exercise on post-exercise hemodynamics. METHODS: Nine total participants aged 18-30 yr were recruited for this experimental cross-over study. This within-subject design involved six randomized conditions; control no mask, no exercise (CON-NE), control-surgical mask, no exercise (CON-SUR), control-exercise, no mask (CON-E), exercise surgical mask (EXS-SUR), exercise N95 mask (EXS-N95), and exercise cloth mask (EXS-CL). The exercise protocol was a HIIT 4 x 4 on a cycle ergometer. Participants exercised at 85% of VO2max for four minutes, followed by a three-minute rest period, repeated four times. Measurements of cardiac output (Q), stroke volume (SV), heart rate (HR), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and brachial blood pressure (BP) were measured pre-exercise for 20-min, during exercise, and postexercise for 60-min. RESULTS: Exercising at high intensity with the surgical, cloth, and N95 masks showed no statistically significant differences in HR, systolic BP, diastolic BP, SV, SVR, and RPE during exercise when compared to the CON-E condition (all p \u3e 0.05). Post-exercise data revealed no statistical differences in systolic BP or diastolic BP compared to the CON-E condition (both p \u3e 0.05). HR was significantly lower (roughly 4-5 ± 1.8 bpm p \u3c 0.01) in the CON-E group compared to all exercise mask-wearing groups following exercise. Additionally, SV (p\u3c0.001) and Q (p=0.002) were significantly lower in the EXS-N95 group compared to the other exercise groups. CONCLUSION: This study is consistent with current literature in suggesting that mask-wearing during exercise, even at high intensity, has no effect physiologically during exercise and on post-exercise hemodynamics. The impact of wearing a mask during exercise may alter the mechanisms of post-exercise hypotension

Analyzing Volunteer Geographic Information Accuracy and Determining its Capabilities for Scientific Research Data

The primary purpose of this research project is to develop, test, and evaluate a volunteered geographic information (VGI) based approach for collecting data in order to assess its accuracy and relativity to a field of scientific research. As such, this research project is composed of three specific aims: 1) Develop a series of mobile VGI applications, accompanying websites, and databases to enable the collection, storage, visualization, and analysis of VGI data; 2) perform usability studies with specific groups of end-users to evaluate the appropriateness of data model and application design; and 3) determine fitness-for-use of the data within a limited set of commonly-employed of spatial analysis techniques sought after by our test audience

Body Mass Index Superior to Body Adiposity Index in Predicting Adiposity in Male Collegiate Athletes

BMI is moderately correlated with %Fat and has been suggested to be inadequate at predicting overfat status in male collegiate athletes.The Body Adiposity Index (BAI) is an alternative anthropometric measurement suggested to be superior to BMI at predicting adiposity but has not been well assessed within different collegiate sports. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if BAI is superior to BMI in predicting %Fat in male collegiate athletes. METHODS: Collegiate male rugby and baseball players were invited into the laboratory for measurements of height, weight, and %Fat via BOD POD. BAI was calculated as Hip Circumference/Height^1.5–18. Regression analysis was ran using SPSS to determine the ability of BMI and BAI to predict %Fat. RESULTS: 75 male athletes from rugby (n=35) and baseball (n=40) completed the study. BMI (r=.796, p\u3c0.001) outperformed BAI (r=.575, p\u3c0.01) on predicting %Fat when all athletes were combined. There were statistically significant sport group differences on height (rugby: 179 ± 7 cm, baseball:185 ± 6 cm, p=.002) and BMI (rugby: 28 ± 5 kg/m, baseball: 26 ± 3 kg/m2, p=.037). BMI was a stronger predictor of %Fat in both the rugby athletes (r=.883, p\u3c0.001) and the baseball athletes (r=.530, p\u3c0.001). CONCLUSION: BAI is not an adequate anthropometric replacement for BMI when predicting %Fat in male collegiate rugby and baseball players

Impact of mask wearing during high-intensity exercise on post-exercise hemodynamics

Background: Few studies examining face mask wearing during high-intensity interval exercise (HIE) have measured blood pressure (BP) and cardiac output (Q) during exercise and none have examined these variables post-exercise. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to complete four exercise and two control conditions while wearing different face masks. Participants followed a 4x4 protocol on a cycle ergometer. Participants exercised at 85% of VO2max for 4-min, followed by a 3-min rest, repeated four times. Measurements of Q, systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and BP were measured pre-exercise for 20-min, during exercise, and postexercise for 60-min. Linear mixed models were used to detect differences between conditions. Results: Ten young (20.3 ± 1.4 yr.) male (n = 5) and female (n = 5) participants with an average BMI of 28.1 ± 7.3 kg/m2 and VO2max of 37.0 ± 7.1 ml.kg-1.min-1 completed this. There were no group differences during exercise on outcomes of Q, SVR, HR, SBP, DBP, MAP, or RPE (all p > .05). During exercise, EXS-N95 had a lower SV than CON-E (p = .014) and EXS-CL (p = .006). All mask conditions had a higher post-exercise HR than CON-E (all p > .05). Only EXS-SUR differed in post-exercise brachial SBP compared to CON-E (3.1 ± 1.6 mmHg, p < .043). Of the exercise conditions, only EXS-N95 differed from CON-E with an increase of 2.0 ± .88 mmHg for brachial DBP (p = .022) and 2.1 ± .92 mmHg for central DBP (p = .022), SV (-11.8 ± 3.5 mL.min-1, p < .001), Q (-.52 ± .26 L.min-1, p = .045), and SVR (73.7 ± 29.8 Dyn.s/cm5, p = .014). Conclusion: The current study shows that in healthy populations, wearing a face covering of any type during HIE does not impactfully change the hemodynamic response during exercise or recovery period

Body Mass Index Superior to Body Adiposity Index in Predicting Adiposity in Female Collegiate Athletes.

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(4): 1487-1498, 2023. Body mass index (BMI) is moderately correlated with %Fat and often used to assess obesity in athletes. Limited research assesses BMI as a surrogate for %Fat in female collegiate athletes. Body Adiposity Index (BAI) is an anthropometric measurement suggested to be superior to BMI at predicting adiposity but has not been well assessed within female athletic populations. This study aimed to determine if BAI is superior to other anthropometric indices to predict %Fat in female collegiate athletes and college-aged female non-athletes. Collegiate female athletes and female non-athletes were invited into the laboratory for anthropometrics and %Fat measurements via BOD POD. BAI was calculated as Hip Circumference/Height1.5 – 18. Eighty-eight female non-athletes and 72 female athletes from soccer (n = 27), softball (n = 28), and basketball (n = 17) completed the study. Using BMI, 19% of non-athletes had a false positive (FP). Sensitivity of BMI in non-athletes was 85.5%, while specificity was 73%. 16% of athletes had a FP. Sensitivity of BMI within athletes was 100%, specificity was 81%. BMI outperformed BAI in athletic (BMI: r = .725, p \u3c .001; BAI: r = .556, p \u3c .001) and nonathletic (BMI: r = .650, p \u3c .001; BAI: r = .499, p \u3c .001) groups. The strongest anthropometric predictor of %Fat within the non-athlete population was BMI (r2 = .42, p \u3c .001). Waist circumference was the strongest predictor in the athletic population (r2 = .62, p \u3c .001). BMI outperformed BAI in its ability to predict %Fat

Fat-Fit Index on Predicting Cardiovascular Outcomes in College Aged Students

Globally, 70% of all deaths annually occur from chronic diseases due to lifestyle risk factors such as obesity and low physical activity. These modifiable factors contribute to the result of chronic cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a common measurement used to predict risk obesity. Furthermore, maximum oxygen consumption (VO2) is used to measure an individual\u27s cardiorespiratory fitness. Fitness Fat Index (FFI) has been suggested to measure chronic disease risks. FFI represents an individual’s cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) divided by their waist to height ratio (WHR). Higher FFI is associated with cardiovascular disease and the reduction of all-cause mortality. FFI has been suggested as superior to BMI and VO2 in predicting health outcomes. The ability of FFI to predict measures of cardiovascular outcomes in college aged students is unknown. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine if FFI is superior to BMI or VO2 in predicting cardiovascular outcomes in college aged students. METHODS: 217 total college-aged subjects (20.9 ± 3.5) with an average BMI of 25.2 ±4.9 completed the study. BMI, FFI measurements were performed and VO2 max test was conducted. Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV), augmentation pressure (AP), augmentation index (AIX), brachial systolic blood pressure (BSBP), brachial diastolic blood Pressure (BDBP), central systolic blood pressure (CSBP), and central diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured. Hierarchical regression analysis was used with age entered in the first block and the predictor variables of BMI, VO2, and FFI were individually entered in the second block. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, BMI explained more of the variance on outcomes of AP (R2 change 5.9%,

How does maximal aerobic capacity predict the performance of ROTC cadets on the ACFT

The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) is a newly developed test that assesses the combat readiness of U.S. Army soldiers. Maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) characteristics vary between soldiers and have the ability to affect performance outcomes. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to determine if VO2max can predict performance outcomes of the ACFT in ROTC cadets. Methods: ROTC cadets (44 males, 15 females; aged 21.06 ± 3.6 years) completed the 6-event ACFT (3-repetition maximum trap-bar deadlift [MDL], standing power toss [SPT], hand-release pushups [HRPU], sprint-drag-carry shuttle run [SDC], plank [PLK], and 2-mile run [2MR]). The cadets were invited into the laboratory to conduct a maximal treadmill running test following the Bruce protocol. The ability for VO2max (mL·kg-1·min-1) to predict ACFT performance was determined with a linear regression model. Significance was set at p \u3c 0.05. Results: VO2max was significantly and positively correlated to MDL (r = .301, p = .018), HRP (r = .525, p \u3c .001), SDC (r = .573, p \u3c .001), PLK (r = .668, p \u3c .001) 2MR (r = .642, p \u3c .001) and overall ACFT score (r = .666, p \u3c .001) except MDL (r = -.021, p = .920), SPT (r = -.173, p = .408), HRP (r = .280, p = .175). VO2max significantly explained 43% (p = .001) of the variance on the total ACFT scores with a beta coefficient of 4.911. Conclusion: There is a gap in the understanding of how VO2max impacts performance in the newly implemented ACFT. VO2max is a predictor of the ACFT total and significantly correlates with the MDL, HRP, SDC, PLK, and 2MR. VO2max did not correlate with the individual event SPT. For every .715 mL·kg-1·min-1 increase in VO2max, ACFT total scores increased by 4.911 points. These findings create the need for further research due to the majority of U.S. Army personnel failing the PLK and 2MR, which can be associated with an insignificant aerobic capacity

Impact of Mask Wearing on Post Exercise Hemodynamics

As the guidelines regarding COVID-19 regressed, many fitness centers established regulations requiring mask-wearing during exercise. Data suggest that the impact of a mask during exercise has minimal effects on exercise hemodynamics. The post-exercise period has been described as a window of opportunity to lower blood pressure, a phenomenon called post-exercise hypotension. The impact of wearing a mask on post-exercise hemodynamics is unknown. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of mask-wearing on post-exercise hemodynamics. METHODS: Nine total participants aged 18-30 yr were recruited for this experimental cross-over study. This within-subject design involved six randomized conditions; control no mask, no exercise (CON-NE), control-surgical mask, no exercise (CON-SUR), control-exercise, no mask (CON-E), exercise surgical mask (EXS-SUR), exercise N95 mask (EXS-N95), and exercise cloth mask (EXS-CL). The exercise protocol was a HIIT 4 x 4 on a cycle ergometer. Participants exercised at 85% of VO2max for four minutes, followed by a three-minute rest period, repeated four times. Measurements of cardiac output (Q), stroke volume (SV), heart rate (HR), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and brachial blood pressure (BP) were measured pre-exercise for 20-min, during exercise, and post-exercise for 60-min. RESULTS: Post-exercise data revealed no statistical differences in systolic BP or diastolic BP compared to the CON-E condition (both p \u3e 0.05). HR was significantly lower (roughly 4-5 ± 1.8 bpm p \u3c 0.01) in the CON-E group compared to all exercise mask-wearing groups following exercise. Additionally, SV (p\u3c0.001) and Q (p=0.002) were significantly lower in the EXS-N95 group compared to the other exercise groups. CONCLUSION: This study is consistent with current literature in suggesting that mask-wearing during exercise, even at high intensity, has no effect physiologically on post-exercise hemodynamics

Body Adiposity Index Superior to Body Mass Index in Predicting Adiposity in Army ROTC Cadets

The Army’s standards to assess body composition were established in the 1960s. The current body composition assessment is due for change as there are newer alternate methods to assess body composition using adiposity. Body Mass Index (BMI) is moderately correlated with % body fat and often used to assess obesity in the general population. The Body Adiposity Index (BAI) is an alternative anthropometric measurement suggested to be superior to BMI at predicting adiposity, but has not been well assessed within military populations. PURPOSE: The purpose of this correlational study was to determine the accuracy of the BMI overweight category as a measure of fatness in ROTC cadets, and to determine if BAI is a superior predictor of % body fat to BMI. METHODS: ROTC cadets were invited into the laboratory for measurements of height, weight, and body fat via BOD POD. Bodyfat above 33% was considered overfat and BMI \u3e25 kg/m2 was considered overweight. BAI was calculated as (Hip Circumference/Height1.5)–18. Pearson correlation determined the strength of relationships. RESULTS: 83 collegiate-aged (20.91 ± 3.37 yr.) ROTC cadets with an average BMI of 24.85 ± 4.87 kg/m2 and % body fat of 23.69 ± 5.95 participated in the study. BMI and BAI significantly predicted % body fat (r = .508, p \u3c 0.001, r = .482, p \u3c 0.001, respectively). When using BMI to determine overfat, 4% (n = 2) of ROTC cadets had a false positive (overweight, normal fat) and 10% (n = 5) had a false negative (normal weight, overfat). BMI predicts 25.8% of body fat and BAI predicts 23.2% of body fat. Because BMI and BAI are statistically similar, both are good predictors of % body fat. Conclusion: Due to the army’s outdated recent measures of body composition, alternative methods could improve quality and consistency of assessments in the future with the use of BMI and BAI