Benefits and Effects of Interactive Gaming Exercise as Compared to Traditional Exercise Techniques: An Investigation of the Relationship Between Physical Activity Levels and Mode of Activity in College Students

Gemstone Team F.I.T.N.E.S.S. (Fun Interactive Techniques for New Exercise and Sport Styles)The objective of this research project was to determine the relationship between mode of activity and motivation to exercise. Specifically, the research aimed to discover if interactive video games are effective in motivating sedentary college students to exercise. The introduction discusses the problems of physical inactivity and obesity, the increased use of video games, and a proposed solution using interactive technology. For a ten-week period, sedentary University of Maryland – College Park students joined either the traditional exercise or interactive gaming group, with heart rates and activity levels documented throughout. Together, quantitative heart rate and activity data and qualitative participant feedback, illustrated that it was too difficult to collect significant data supporting a conclusion that one activity was a significantly better means to raise heart rates and motivate students to exercise. However, the data did support the importance of continuing research on potential benefits of interactive gaming for a sedentary population

Interaction of Cr(diimine)\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e \u3csup\u3e3+\u3c/sup\u3e Complexes with DNA

Luminescence spectroscopy coupled with capillary electrophoresis (CE) provides insight into the nature and stereoselectivity of Cr(diimine)33+ interactions with polynucleotides. Photoluminescence measurements on Cr(phen)33+ and Cr(bpy)33+ in air or N2-saturated solution demonstrate strong B-DNA quenching of Cr(diimine)33+ emission intensities and lifetimes. Both dynamic and static quenching are observed, the latter being attributed to DNA bound Cr(diimine)33+. Very rapid quenching is also observed with deoxyguanosine monophosphate (dGMP), while no bimolecular quenching is observed with other mononucleotides. Likewise, poly(dG-dC)·poly(dG-dC) causes rapid quenching, while only minor quenching is observed for poly(dA-dT)·poly(dA-dT). These emission results are consistent with a DNA quenching mechanism involving guanine base oxidation. The electropherogram resulting from the co-injection of rac-Cr(phen)33+ and rac-Ru(phen)32+ into a capillary containing B-DNA indicates a similar binding constant for the two complexes, while the enantiomeric stereoselectivities are reversed. CE studies for Ru(phen)32+ with distamycin A (an AT selective minor groove binder) reveal a significant reduction in complex migration times and a complete loss of enantiomeric discrimination. These results are consistent with a literature model where nonelectrostatic binding for both isomers occurs in the minor groove. Analogous distamycin studies with Cr(phen)33+ are also in accord with minor groove binding. Luminescence spectroscopy coupled with capillary electrophoresis (CE) provides insight into the nature and stereoselectivity of Cr(diimine)33+ interactions with polynucleotides. Photoluminescence measurements on Cr(phen)33+ and Cr(bpy)33+ in air or N2-saturated solution demonstrate strong B-DNA quenching of Cr(diimine)33+ emission intensities and lifetimes. Both dynamic and static quenching are observed, the latter being attributed to DNA bound Cr(diimine)33+. Very rapid quenching is also observed with deoxyguanosine monophosphate (dGMP), while no bimolecular quenching is observed with other mononucleotides. Likewise, poly(dG-dC)·poly(dG-dC) causes rapid quenching, while only minor quenching is observed for poly(dA-dT)·poly(dA-dT). These emission results are consistent with a DNA quenching mechanism involving guanine base oxidation. The electropherogram resulting from the co-injection of rac-Cr(phen)33+ and rac-Ru(phen)32+ into a capillary containing B-DNA indicates a similar binding constant for the two complexes, while the enantiomeric stereoselectivities are reversed. CE studies for Ru(phen)32+ with distamycin A (an AT selective minor groove binder) reveal a significant reduction in complex migration times and a complete loss of enantiomeric discrimination. These results are consistent with a literature model where nonelectrostatic binding for both isomers occurs in the minor groove. Analogous distamycin studies with Cr(phen)33+ are also in accord with minor groove binding

Synthesis and characterization of heteroleptic Cr(diimine)\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e\u3csup\u3e3+\u3c/sup\u3e complexes

A versatile synthetic procedure is described for the synthesis of previously unreported heteroleptic Cr(diimine)33+ complexes. The method takes advantage of the excellent leaving group characteristics of the trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate) ligand, CF3SO3-ˆ’, and involves refluxing a precursor cis-Cr(diimine)2(CF3SO3)2]CF3SO3 complex with an alternative free diimine ligand in a non-coordinating solvent such as CH2Cl2 or CH3CN. The synthesis and characterization of the heteroleptic systems Cr(phen)2(bpy)3+, Cr((phen)(bpy)23+, Cr(phen)2(TMP)3+, Cr(phen)(TMP)23+, and Cr(phen)2(DPPZ)3+ are reported (where phen=1,10-phenanthroline, bpy=2,2-€²-bipyridine, TMP=3,4,7,8-1,10-phenanthroline, and DPPZ=dipyridophenazine). Capillary electrophoresis studies have proven an especially valuable aid in determining the presence or absence of diimine ligand scrambling (and for establishing purity in general). With the exception of Cr(phen)(bpy)23+, these syntheses proceed with essentially no diimine ligand scrambling, even when carried out in the presence of excess entering diimine. UV-Vis absorption and emission spectra, and excited state lifetime and cyclic voltammetry data are also presented for these heteroleptic systems, and comparisons are made with known values for the homoleptic parent species Cr(bpy)33+, Cr(phen)33+, and Cr(TMP)33+. Also reported is the synthesis of these three homoleptic complexes via the appropriate cis-Cr(diimine)2(CF3SO3)2]CF3SO3 precursor species. The procedure is an attractive alternative to the widely employed literature method for homoleptic systems involving the preliminary formation of air sensitive Cr(II) complexes