MS-167: Hiram Parker Jr. Letters

There are 52 letters total in the collection spanning from 1862-1874. The bulk of the letters are written by Hiram most of which are to his father, mother Mary Sparks. However, there are a couple to another member of the Sparks family and a few other friends. Six are letters written to Hiram from his friends and the collection also includes 12 handwritten and printed reports on the construction of the gunboat Tacony. Hiram’s letters are very detailed (some of his letters are over a dozen pages), and he wrote to people very often even adding on to some letters after he originally finished writing them. Many of the letters still have their original envelopes with them. Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website http://www.gettysburg.edu/special_collections/collections/.https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/findingaidsall/1140/thumbnail.jp

MS-129: Burlew Letters

This collection consists of letter written between Aaron E. Burlew, John W. Burlew, and Carrie Burlew, all siblings from Atkinsons Mills, Pennsylvania, during the Civil War.https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/findingaidsall/1149/thumbnail.jp

The Dynamics of Students' Behaviors and Reasoning during Collaborative Physics Tutorial Sessions

We investigate the dynamics of student behaviors (posture, gesture, vocal register, visual focus) and the substance of their reasoning during collaborative work on inquiry-based physics tutorials. Scherr has characterized student activity during tutorials as observable clusters of behaviors separated by sharp transitions, and has argued that these behavioral modes reflect students' epistemological framing of what they are doing, i.e., their sense of what is taking place with respect to knowledge. We analyze students' verbal reasoning during several tutorial sessions using the framework of Russ, and find a strong correlation between certain behavioral modes and the scientific quality of students' explanations. We suggest that this is due to a dynamic coupling of how students behave, how they frame an activity, and how they reason during that activity. This analysis supports the earlier claims of a dynamic between behavior and epistemology. We discuss implications for research and instruction.Comment: 4 pages, PERC 200

The effect of co-ingesting beetroot juice and vitamin C on blood pressure in Hispanic women: a literature review and a proposal

Dietary nitrate supplementation is known for improving blood pressure through vasodilation and may favorably alter oral microbial populations related to cardiovascular health. Co-ingestion with vitamin C (VITC) may further potentiate these benefits but this remains unexplored. Additionally, this field has yet to examine the influence of sex and ethnicity, which is important given that physiological differences exist between populations. The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of combining dietary nitrate, in the form of beetroot juice, and VITC on blood pressure and the oral microbiome in women of Hispanic, African American, and American descent across multiple institutions. In a double-blinded, randomized, crossover design, 12 Hispanic females will arrive to the laboratory at Pepperdine University, while 12 African American and 12 Caucasian women will arrive to the laboratory at Indiana University, for 4 visits over 4 months to receive nitrate-depleted beetroot juice and crystal light (PL+CL), PL and VITC (PL+VITC), nitrate-rich beetroot juice and CL (BR+CL), and BR and VITC (BR+VITC). During each experimental trial, resting blood and buccal cell samples will be obtained followed by body composition. Following this, blood pressure and heart rate will be measured at rest and during a protocol for assessing cardiovascular reactivity. Each visit will take place during the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. The data have important implications for increasing the application of dietary interventions for cardiovascular health to benefit a wider population

The effect of a single dose of beetroot juice on speed, strength, and power in healthy recreationally active females.

Nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR) improves muscle contraction which is relevant for intense intermittent-type sports. However, few studies have examined the effect of BR ingestion on performance using sport-specific exercise protocols. Moreover, there is a scarcity of research that include female participants which limits real world application given that females potentially have different responses to BR ingestion. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of BR supplementation on speed, acceleration, strength and power before and after fatigue in females. In a double-blind, randomized crossover design, 15 recreationally active females consumed BR and nitrate-depleted placebo juice (PL) ~2.5 hours prior to exercise testing. Measurements included 20 m sprint and acceleration using timing gates, strength using isokinetic handgrip dynamometry, and upper and lower body power using the medicine ball power throw and countermovement jump (CMJ) before and after a fatiguing running protocol. Data from a subset of participants (n=15) were analyzed and revealed no significant difference between PL and BR for 20 m speed and 10 m acceleration (P\u3e0.05), isokinetic handgrip dynamometry (PL: PRE: 76±10 vs POST: 76±13; BR: PRE: 78±12 vs POST: 78±12 lb; P\u3e0.05), medicine ball power throw (PL: PRE: 4.45±0.48 vs POST: 4.35±0.48; BR: PRE: 4.41±0.38 vs POST: 4.49±0.47 m; P\u3e0.05) or CMJ (PL: PRE: 1.72±0.27 vs POST: 1.7±0.26; BR: PRE: 1.77±0.25 vs POST: 1.73±0.28 m; P\u3e0.05). These results indicate that there are no effects of BR supplementation on exercise performance in female athletes; however, this study is currently underpowered, and research is still in progress

The effects of nitrate-rich beetroot juice supplementation on nonverbal executive function in healthy recreationally active females

Nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR) supplementation has been reported to preserve executive function (i.e. decision making and reaction time) before and after a simulated soccer match in recreationally active males, which may be due to enhanced cerebral blood flow. However, the literature examining the physiological response following BR ingestion in females is scarce, which hampers the extrapolation of results since physiological sex-differences may exist. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess if BR ingestion influenced executive function in an unfatigued and fatigued state in healthy recreationally active females. In a double-blind, randomized crossover design, 20 females consumed 140 mL of concentrated BR or nitrate-depleted placebo juice (PL) approximately 2.5 hours prior to each experimental visit. The Delis-Kaplan Executive Function (D-KEF) test, used for assessing higher-level cognitive function, was administered before and after completing a high-intensity intermittent running protocol. The D-KEF test involved 3 x 60-s conditions evaluating various cognitive tasks. A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was conducted (n=15) and revealed no significant differences in executive function between PL (PRE: 15.27 ± 32.71 vs. POST: 16.93 ± 1.44) and BR (PRE: 15.80 ± 2.65 vs. POST: 16.60 ± 1.88). These preliminary data suggest that acute BR ingestion does not have an influence on processing and creative thinking of nonverbal executive function in an unfatigued or fatigued state in healthy recreationally active females, although importantly, the study is still in progress

People with disabilities, Durham City, North Carolina : an action-oriented community diagnosis ; findings and next steps of action

An action-oriented community diagnosis (AOCD) is a process that brings together secondary data (such as newspaper articles, websites, and research studies), team observations, and community member and service provider interviews. This information is gathered and analyzed in order to create a comprehensive reference of the community’s strengths and challenges in order to celebrate the positives of the community while addressing the community’s concerns. During the 2006-2007 academic year, a team of six graduate students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health (UNC) conducted an AOCD with people with disabilities in Durham, North Carolina. The information gathered by the student team was presented at a community forum in order for community members, service providers, and key stakeholders to work together to discuss the strengths and needs of the community. The community forum was held on April 14, 2007 at Durham’s Center for Senior Life. Over 60 community members and service providers attended the event. At the forum, participants had the opportunity to participate in small group discussions on the major themes identified through the process. During these discussions, the groups worked together to create and take responsibility for specific action steps. The themes discussed at the forum and their actions steps are as follows: Accessibility: There are many private and public entities in Durham which are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Often physical barriers, such as unsafe sidewalks, prevent people with disabilities from adequately accessing the services they need. Action steps: 1. Speak to Services for the Blind about Braille menus. 2. Direct restaurants to Alliance of Disability Advocates for Braille printing. 3. Organize an Awareness Training through the Mayor’s Committee. 4. Provide input in the trainings required by the Department of Justice lawsuit. 5. Contact the Durham ADA coordinator, regarding the trainings. 6. Talk to the Mayor regarding businesses that are not up to code. 7. Invite an ADA liaison or a police official to attend a Mayor’s Committee meeting. 8. File individual complaints regarding accessibility issues if calls to law enforcement are unsuccessful. Attitudes: People with disabilities want to live independent lives and have the same opportunities as everyone else. Action steps: 1. Be involved in the community. Participate like everyone else. 2. Create an email listserv or publicity forum for people with disabilities to advertise events in the community. 3. Attend the Asheville Disabilities Cultural Fest on 6/2/2007. 4. Have more social parties for people with disabilities and the community at large. 5. Influence schools to offer courses that address issues and attitudes towards people with disabilities. 6. Plan a disability pride event or parade that would highlight the arts and educate people about issues facing people with disabilities. 7. Have people with disabilities represented at the Women's Empowerment Conference in Durham. 8. Attend the Self-Advocacy Convention in Winston Salem 3/14 -3/16/2008. 9. Attend the dance sponsored by the Arc of Durham at Edison Johnson 4/21/2007. Housing: There is not enough affordable, accessible housing for people with disabilities to live in. People with disabilities then have to live in homes that make life harder for them or spend a lot of money to modify their homes. Action steps: 1. Work to pass Money Follows the Person. 2. Sign the Money Follows the Person petition. 3. Encourage friends and family to sign the petition by bringing it to events, churches, etc. 4. Invite friends over to discuss housing. 5. Encourage churches to discuss housing issues. 6. Contact city government officials to learn who is accountable for housing. 7. Contact the Mayor’s Committee and Alliance of Disability Advocates / Centers for Independent Living regarding housing and advocacy training. Recreation: Recreational opportunities and activities for people with disabilities exist in Durham; however, opportunities and activities are limited in number and variety, and are not known about. This prevents people from being socially engaged with other people with disabilities and the community at large. Action steps: 1. Write a petition to the Director of Parks and Recreation asking for more recreational activities for people with disabilities. 2. Advocate for people with disabilities at city council meetings. 3. Contact TeleMed about creating a recorded recreation calendar. 4. Discuss the need for more activities for people with disabilities with the director of Durham’s Center for Senior Life. 5. Ask Durham’s Center for Senior Life to put an activity calendar on their phone. 6. Write a letter to the editor highlighting the need for funding for activities for people with disabilities. 7. Contact churches, civic clubs, and local community groups about volunteering to provide transportation for people with disabilities to and from activities. Transportation: DATA buses are accessible and are a great asset to the community. Unfortunately, bus stops are frequently not accessible, which can cause safety concerns. ACCESS is a useful service but requires planning ahead and is often too expensive for people on fixed incomes to afford. Without being able to get to a bus stop or use ACCESS services, people have struggled to get to and from work and participate in social activities. Action steps: 1. Lobby to improve collaboration and secure funding. 2. Lobby to establish an organization that provides resources for regional transit. Following the forum, the team reflected on the AOCD process and their experiences with the community. Summarized below are the team’s final recommendations for the community as they continue working on the action steps: Make the forum an annual event hosted by either a service agency or a governmental organization, such as the Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities. Make the Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities the clearinghouse for resources and information for people with disabilities. Coordinate the efforts of organizations for people with cognitive disabilities with organizations for people with physical disabilities. Expand the paratransit service to include more drivers and vans or offer a second paratransit service option. Increase community members' impact on decisions made in Durham by having a person with a disability sit in on all applicable city meetings, such as city council, transportation, and parks and recreation meetings. This document is a follow up to the community forum and the AOCD process, including detailed descriptions of each step of the process, information about each theme, and the nature of the small group discussions at the community forum. The team hopes that community members and service providers will use this report, the action steps, and the shared desire to improve the community to continue the work that was started during the AOCD. Ultimately, the team hopes that the initiatives started during this process will lead not only to future improvements in the quality of life for people with disabilities in Durham but in the lives of all residents of Durham.Master of Public Healt

The Effects of Acute Beetroot Juice Ingestion on Exercise and Cognitive Performance in Female Athletes

Nitrate-rich beetroot juice can enhance intense exercise performance which is attributed to enhanced skeletal muscle contractility. However, limited data exist in females and it is unknown whether dietary nitrate has an ergogenic effect in this population. PURPOSE: To investigate the potential effects of acute nitrate ingestion on a battery of exercise performance and cognitive tests before and after fatiguing intermittent running exercise. METHODS: Fifteen female team-sport athletes were assigned in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design to consume nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR; 12 mmol of nitrate) and nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (PL; 0.10 mmol of nitrate) 2.5 h prior to performing the exercise protocol, with a washout period of 7 days between trials. Running 10 m and 20 m sprint split times, sprint reaction time, upper- and lower-body power, handgrip strength, and cognitive flexibility were measured before and after the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1) test, during which performance and rate of perceived exertion were recorded. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in any performance outcome or cognitive flexibility (P \u3e 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that acute nitrate ingestion does not influence performance in sprints, intermittent running, power, strength, or cognitive function in young adult female team-sport athletes