Comparing One-Mile Run Time and Perceived Exertion of College-Aged Females in an Outdoor Environment versus an Indoor Environment

ABSTRACT PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of an indoor environment versus an outdoor environment on a one-mile time performance. METHODS: Sixteen female runners were requested to run two, one-mile timed trials in an indoor environment and outdoor environment. Before both trials, runners completed a barriers to exercise survey to investigate common, uncommon, and neutral perceived barriers to exercise. After the first timed one-mile run trial, runners were instructed to abstain from any exercise until their second day of data collection. Resting heart rate and blood pressure was recorded before and after each timed mile run. RPE (rate of perceived exertion) was also collected after each trial. To assess the factor of limitations, temperature was recorded of each environment. RESULTS: A paired sample t-test revealed that participants completed the one mile run faster when they performed the run inside (8.2±3.0 minutes) compared to outside (8.4±3.0 minutes). Although the participants ran faster indoors, 47% (n=7) of them preferred running in an outdoor environment. The RPE of the participants also increased when they ran outdoors by 1 point (RPE inside: 13±2; RPE outside: 14±1). The post run heart rate of the participants was significantly higher (approximately 10bpm) after the outdoor run opposed to the indoor run. CONCLUSION: Participants performed faster on a one-mile timed trial in an indoor condition, even though nearly half of them preferred running outdoors. These findings indicate that an indoor environment can result in a faster performance time in young college-aged females

Assesing use and suitability of scanning electron microscopy in the analysis of micro remains in dental calculus

Dental calculus is increasingly recognized as a major reservoir of dietary information. Palaeodietary studies using plant and animal micro remains (e.g. phytoliths, pollen, sponge spicules, and starch grains) trapped in calculus have the potential to revise our knowledge of the dietary role of plants in past populations. The conventional methods used to isolate and identify these micro remains rely on removing them from their microenvironment in the calculus, thus the microenvironment that traps and preserves micro remains is not understood. By using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEMeEDX) on modern chimpanzee calculus from the Taï Forest, Côte d¿Ivoire, and human calculus from the Chalcolithic site of Camino del Molino, Spain, we present the first reported observations on characteristics of the matrix setting that are conducive to the survival of starch in dental calculus. We also assess the potential for SEMeEDX to detect starch and differentiate it from structurally and molecularly similar substrates. We demonstrate that SEMeEDX may offer a nondestructive technique for studying micro remains in certain contexts. Finally, we compare traditional optical analytical techniques (OM) with less invasive electron microscopy. The results indicate that SEM-EDX and OM are both effective for observing micro remains in calculus, but differ in their analytical resolution to identify different micro remains, and we therefore recommend a sequential use of both techniques

Fission-Fusion Dynamics New Research Frameworks

Nineteen scientists from different disciplines collaborated in highlighting new methodological and theoretical aspects in the re-emerging study area of fission-fusion dynamics. The renewed interest in this area is due to the recognition that such dynamics may create unique challenges for social interaction and distinctive selective pressures acting on underlying communicative and cognitive abilities. In five sections, we outline new frameworks for integrating current knowledge on fission-fusion dynamics and suggest promising directions for future research using a broad comparative perspective. In the first section, we briefly review the diverse uses of the term “fission-fusion” and propose a fundamental re-thinking away from its current general use as a label for a particular modal type of social system (i.e., fission-fusion societies). Specifically, because the degree of spatial and temporal cohesion of group members varies both within and across taxa, we note that any social system can be described in terms of the extent to which it expresses fission-fusion dynamics, and we thus advocate a realignment of use of the term “fission-fusion” to reflect this perspective. The implications of this perspective are then discussed and expanded in three sections focusing on the socioecology, communication, and cognitive demands of fission-fusion dynamics. The last section explores the relevance of fission-fusion dynamics for human social evolution

Fission-fusion dynamics: new research frameworks

Renewed interest in fission-fusion dynamics is due to the recognition that such dynamics may create unique challenges for social interaction and distinctive selective pressures acting on underlying communicative and cognitive abilities. New frameworks for integrating current knowledge on fission-fusion dynamics emerge from a fundamental rethinking of the term "fission-fusion" away from its current general use as a label for a particular model type of social system (i.e., "fission-fusion societies"). Specifically, because the degree of spatial and temporal cohesion of group members varies both within and across taxa, any social system can be described in terms of the extent to which it expresses fission-fusion dynamics. This perspective has implications for socioecology, communication, cognitive demands, and human social evolution

Fission-Fusion Dynamics New Research Frameworks

Renewed interest in fission-fusion dynamics is due to the recognition that such dynamics may create unique challenges for social interaction and distinctive selective pressures acting on underlying communicative and cognitive abilities. New frameworks for integrating current knowledge on fission-fusion dynamics emerge from a fundamental rethinking of the term "fission-fusion" away from its current general use as a label for a particular modal type of social system (i.e., "fission-fusion societies"). Specifically, because the degree of spatial and temporal cohesion of group members varies both within and across taxa, any social system can be described in terms of the extent to which it expresses fission-fusion dynamics. This perspective has implications for socioecology, communication, cognitive demands, and human social evolution.</p