Reclaiming Albany\u27s Arboreal Abundance

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College

Effects of Motivational Music on Post-Exercise Recovery

Previous literature suggests “motivational” music has a tempo between 120-140 bpm to elicit positive responses to exercise performance. While music that is considered “motivational” has been known to elicit a positive response during exercise performance, it’s impact on exercise recovery has not been determined. PURPOSE: To examine responses of physiological variables to motivational music during the exercise recovery period. Hypothesis: calm music, or no music would allow the participants to recover more quickly during the excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) period. METHODS: This study consisted of 10 healthy, college-aged (19-25 years) individuals (6 M, 4F). Participants performed the Bruce treadmill exercise test to volitional fatigue to determine their aerobic fitness level (VO 2peak ) (2.97 0.97 L/min). At each stage of exercise, heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and blood lactate via finger stick were collected. Participants then completed three additional exercise sessions for 20 minutes at 70% VO 2peak . During these trials, participants listened to motivational music selected from songs rated using the Music Brunel Rating Inventory which is a validated survey tool to determine if a song is motivational. Calming music was selected from a list of songs with a slower tempo from a posted report of “calming” songs. Blood lactate, BP, and HR were collected at the 10 and 20 minute mark during exercise, as well as at immediate post-exercise (IPE), 7, and 15 minutes into recovery. During recovery, all participants completed all three trials and listened to either motivational (MM), calming (CM), or no music (NM) while sitting. Each condition was randomly assigned. RESULTS: No significant differences between trials were observed for any measured time point during the EPOC: Oxygen consumption (VO 2 ): IPE (MM: 0.7 ± 0.2; CM: 0.6 ± 0.2; NM: 0.7 ± 0.2 L/min), 7 min post-exercise (MM: 0.7 ± 1.2; CM: 0.4 ± 0.1; NM: 0.4 ± 0.1 L/min), or 15 min post-exercise (MM: 0.3 ± 0.1; CM: 0.3 ± 0.1; NM: 0.3 ± 0.1 L/min). Ventilation (VE): IPE (MM: 19.94 ± 3.76; CM: 19.10 ± 5.55; NM: 20.18 ± 6.06 L/min), 7 min post-exercise (MM: 9.61 ± 2.48; CM: 10.25 ± 2.17; NM: 11.48 ± 4.03 L/min), or 15 min post-exercise (MM: 7.17 ± 1.82; CM: 8.63 ± 2.57; NM: 9.89 ± 4.33 L/min). Respiratory exchange ratio (RER): IPE (MM: 1.13 ± 0.07; CM: 1.14 ± 0.05; NM: 1.13 ± 0.11), 7 min post-exercise (MM: 0.95 ± 0.06; CM: 1.02 ± 0.14; NM: 0.97 ± 0.12), or 15 min post-exercise (MM: 0.90 ± 0.11; CM: 0.83 ± 0.05; NM: 0.85 ± 0.07. Lactate: IPE (MM: 4.7 ± 2.6; CM: 4.5 ± 2.1; NM: 4.2 ± 2.3 mmol/L), 7 min post-exercise (MM: 3.1 ± 1.6; CM: 3.1 ± 2.0; NM: 3.0 ± 1.6 mmol/L), or 15 min post- exercise (MM: 2.0 ± 1.1; CM: 2.1 ± 1.1; NM: 2.1 ± 0.94 mmol/L). Heart Rate (HR): IPE (MM: 146 ± 13; CM: 135 ± 14; NM: 136 ± 12 bpm), 7 min post-exercise (MM: 100 ± 8; CM: 100 ± 8; NM: 98 ± 9 bpm), or 15 min post-exercise (MM: 91 ± 8; CM: 91 ± 9; NM: 92 ± 8 bpm). CONCLUSION: These findings conflict with our research hypothesis that calm music, or no music would allow the participants to recover more quickly during the EPOC. No significant differences were found between music trials for any physiological variable associated with recovery during the EPOC

Does No-Tillage Mitigate Stover Removal in Irrigated Continuous Corn? A Multi-Location Assessment

No-tillage (NT) may ameliorate negative effects on soil properties from corn (Zea mays L.) stover harvest, but few long-term irrigated continuous corn production systems have been evaluated to test this hypothesis. We evaluated three long-term no-tillage sites (4–13 yr) in Nebraska and Colorado that spanned a range of precipitation and soil organic carbon (SOC) levels. We measured SOC, d13C of SOC, soil microbial biomass (SMB) and composition (i.e., phospholipid fatty acids, PLFAs), and water stable aggregation at all sites under stover retention vs. removal (~60%). Surface SOC stocks (0–30- cm depth) increased across the gradient and were 46.4, 57.4, and 63.1 Mg C ha–1 for Colorado, central Nebraska, and eastern Nebraska, respectively. Overall, residue removal decreased SOC stocks by 6% and soil aggregation by 12% in the 0- to 30-cm depth. The d13C signature of SOC indicated less new surface C storage under residue removal in Colorado, but not at the two Nebraska sites. Residue harvest did not decrease SMB or change soil microbial community structure, suggesting that high plant productivity buffered community composition from stover harvest impacts under NT but stimulated microbial activity levels that led to SOC loss. The high rates of stover removal used in this study decreased SOC stocks and aggregation at all sites compared to residue retained treatments, suggesting that no-tillage alone was not sufficient to maintain erosion protection and soil function

Using TVS to Verify SpaceWire Designs

No abstract availabl

Oxidative stress and blood lipid profile in Cameroonian obese subjects

The relationship between obesity, blood lipids and oxidative stress was investigated in 200 participants. The Body Mass Index of the subjects were positively correlated with the percentage body fat, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, the fasting blood glucose level, the oxidation of proteins and lipids as well as the concentrations of total and LDL cholesterol. On the other hand, the Body Mass Index was negatively correlated to sulhydryl and protein levels. Obese subjects also had significantly higher body fat (p<.001), waist circumference (p<.001), fasting blood glucose (p<.01) as well as systolic blood pressure (p<.05). Obesity, therefore, can be said to increase the oxidation of plasma proteins and lipids while reducing the antioxidant status as observed by the inverse relation between plasma sulfhydryl groups and the percentage body fat. This increase in oxidative stress can predispose obese people to illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus

Identification of stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Kenya using Morphometrics and DNA barcoding

Stingless bees are important pollinators of wild plants and crops. The identity of stingless bee species in Africa has not been fully documented. The present study explored the utility of morphometrics and DNA barcoding for identification of African stingless bee populations, and to further employ these tools to identify potential cryptic variation within species. Stingless bee samples were collected from three ecological zones, namely Kakamega Forest, Mwingi and Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, which are geographically distant and cover high, medium and low altitudes, respectively. Forewing and hind leg morphometric characters were measured to determine the extent of morphological variation between the populations. DNA barcodes were generated from the mitochondrial cytochrome c-oxidase I (COI) gene. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on the morphometric measurements separated the bee samples into three clusters: (1) Meliponula bocandei; (2) Meliponula lendliana + Plebeina hildebrandti; (3) Dactylurina schmidti + Meliponula ferruginea black + Meliponula ferruginea reddish brown, but Canonical Variate Analysis (CVA) separated all the species except the two morphospecies (M. ferruginea reddish brown and black). The analysis of the COI sequences showed that DNA barcoding can be used to identify all the species studied and revealed remarkable genetic distance (7.3%) between the two M. ferruginea morphs. This is the first genetic evidence that M. ferruginea black and M. ferruginea reddish brown are separate species

Hexavalent Chromium (VI) Removal by Penicillium sp. IA-01

The objective of this work was to study the removal of chromium (VI) in aqueous solution by the fungus Penicillium sp. IA-01, isolated from polluted air with industrial vapors. To obtain the fungal biomass, pre-inoculums were performed in thioglycolate broth from a strain isolated from vapours contaminated with Cr (VI). The fungus was incubated for four weeks at ambient temperature, filtered, and washed three times with trideionized water. In preparing cellullar fractions, it was necessary to break the fungal cells with glass beads using a homogenizer being careful to keep the samples in frosty cold ice. To obtain the fungal biomass, the fungus was filtered and stored in an oven at 80°C, allowing it to dry for 48 h. Removal of Cr (VI) in vitro was evaluated using different cellular fractions and dead fungal biomass. We determine the optimal characteristics for metal removal in the reaction mixture. Concluding that the ideal conditions for the removal of Cr (VI) in the cell extracts were 37°C and pH 7.0, also we observ that the highest enzyme activity was in the mixed membrane fraction. In dead fungal biomass, the ideal conditions for removal of metal are 60°C and pH 1.0

Medicinal leeches and the microsurgeon: A four-year study, clinical series and risk benefit review

Background: There are case reports and small series in the literature relating to the use of medicinal leeches by plastic surgeons; however, larger series from individual units are rare. The aim of this article is to present a comprehensive 4-year case series of the use of medicinal leeches, discuss the current evidence regarding indications, risks, and benefits and highlight the recent updates regarding leech speciation. Methods: Patients prescribed leeches in a 4-year period (July 2004–2008) were collated from hospital pharmacy records (N = 35). The number of leeches used, demographic, clinical, and microbiological details were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Thirty-five patients were treated with leeches. The age range was 2 to 98 years (mean = 49.3). Leeches were most commonly used for venous congestion in pedicled flaps and replantations. Blood transfusions were necessary in 12 cases (34%) [mean = 2.8 units, range 2–5 units]. Our infection rate was 20% (7/35) including five infections with Aeromonas spp. (14.2%). The proportion of patients becoming infected after leech therapy was significantly greater in the group of patients that did not receive prophylactic antibiotic treatment (Fisher's Exact test P = 0.0005). In total, 14 cases (40%) were salvaged in entirety, in 7 cases 80% or more, in 2 cases 50 to 79%, and in 1 case less than 50% of the tissues were salvaged. In 11 cases (31%), the tissues were totally lost. Conclusion: Our study highlights both the benefits and the risks to patients in selected clinical situations and also the potential risks. The routine use of antibiotic prophylaxis is supported. In view of the emerging evidence that Hirudo verbana are now used as standard leech therapy, and the primary pathogen is Aeromonas veronii, until a large prospective multicenter study is published, large series of patients treated with leeches should be reported. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2011

Seasonal switchgrass ecotype contributions to soil organic carbon, deep soil microbial community composition and rhizodeposit uptake during an extreme drought

The importance of rhizodeposit C and associated microbial communities in deep soil C stabilization is relatively unknown. Phenotypic variability in plant root biomass could impact C cycling through belowground plant allocation, rooting architecture, and microbial community abundance and composition. We used a pulse-chase 13C labeling experiment with compound-specific stable-isotope probing to investigate the importance of rhizodeposit C to deep soil microbial biomass under two switchgrass ecotypes (Panicum virgatum L., Kanlow and Summer) with contrasting root morphology. We quantified root phenology, soil microbial biomass (phospholipid fatty acids, PLFA), and microbial rhizodeposit uptake (13C-PLFAs) to 150 cm over one year during a severe drought. The lowland ecotype, Kanlow, had two times more root biomass with a coarser root system compared to the upland ecotype, Summer. Over the drought, Kanlow lost 78% of its root biomass, while Summer lost only 60%. Rhizosphere microbial communities associated with both ecotypes were similar. However, rhizodeposit uptake under Kanlow had a higher relative abundance of gram-negative bacteria (44.1%), and Summer rhizodeposit uptake was primarily in saprotrophic fungi (48.5%). Both microbial community composition and rhizodeposit uptake shifted over the drought into gram-positive communities. Rhizosphere soil C was greater one year later under Kanlow due to turnover of unlabeled structural root C. Despite a much greater root biomass under Kanlow, rhizosphere δ13C was not significantly different between the two ecotypes, suggesting greater microbial C input under the finer rooted species, Summer, whose microbial associations were predominately saprotrophic fungi. Ecotype specific microbial communities can direct rhizodeposit C flow and C accrual deep in the soil profile and illustrate the importance of the microbial community in plant strategies to survive environmental stress such as drought

Impact of the foliar application of nanoparticles, sulfate and iron chelate on the growth, yield and nitrogen assimilation in green beans

Nano-fertilizers (Nfs) have the potential to revolutionize agricultural systems through nanostructures ranging from 1 to 100 nm that address environmental responses and a more targeted biological demand. The purpose of this work was to study the impact of the foliar application of nanoparticles (NPs), sulfate and iron chelate on the growth, yield and assimilation of nitrogen in green beans. The iron was applied foliar in three different ways: Iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3), ferric sulfate (Fe2(SO4)3) and iron chelate (Fe-EDDHA) in doses of 0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 ppm. The treatments that produced a higher total biomass increase were NPs and Fe-EDDHA at 50 ppm, with increases of 37% and 47% respectively compared to the control (with no application of Fe). Regarding the in vivo nitrate reductase activity, significant differences were obtained, particularly in the NPs and Fe-EDDHA treatment, with increases of 71% and 72% respectively. NPs at low doses favored maximum fruit production with increases of 88% in comparison to the control. Finally, it is concluded that the optimal doses that enhanced total biomass, production and assimilation of nitrogen were Fe2(SO4)3 at 25 ppm, Fe-EDDHA at 100 ppm and Fe2O3 at 25 ppm. The efficiency of foliar absorption of iron was found in treatments with Fe2O3 at 50 and 100 ppm. The foliar absorption efficiency of NPs offers sustainable alternatives to increase the productivity of the green bean