Using Personality and Temperament to Predict Exercise Behavior: A Pilot Study of the Braverman Nature Assessment

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(5): 341-357, 2022. The Braverman Nature Assessment (BNA) is intended to determine the dominant monoamine neurochemical that drives an individual’s temperament and behavior. The measure has been colloquially praised for the ability to determine the most effective exercise protocols for an individual based on their “dominant nature.” This study seeks to examine the proposed relationship between the Braverman Natures and exercise behavior. Seventy-three adults (57 females) between ages 18-65 (mean = 26 years) completed an online survey consisting of the BNA, Big Five Personality Inventory (BFI), and Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study Physical Activity Questionnaire (ACLSPAQ). All Natures showed significant correlations to unique sets of personality traits (BFI). Dopamine and Serotonin Nature scores (via BNA) showed positive correlations to total physical activity (PA)measures. Serotonin Nature had positive correlation with participation in resistance exercise (r = .36, p \u3c .01) and showed the strongest correlations to PA participation. Dopamine was not associated with Extraversion as predicted; however, showed positive correlations to vigorous intensity exercise (r = .26, p \u3c .05). The Natures demonstrate some low to moderate correlations between neurochemical scores and exercise behaviors such as preference for various exercise modalities. There is preliminary evidence to suggest that the BNA may be a useful tool for exercise prescription based on correlations between personality and exercise behavior found in this study. The results do not support colloquial literature on the use of BNA in exercise prescription

Expectation Values in Relativistic Coulomb Problems

We evaluate the matrix elements , where O ={1, \beta, i\alpha n \beta} are the standard Dirac matrix operators and the angular brackets denote the quantum-mechanical average for the relativistic Coulomb problem, in terms of the generalized hypergeometric functions_{3}F_{2} for all suitable powers. Their connections with the Chebyshev and Hahn polynomials of a discrete variable are emphasized. As a result, we derive two sets of Pasternack-type matrix identities for these integrals, when p->-p-1 and p->-p-3, respectively. Some applications to the theory of hydrogenlike relativistic systems are reviewed.Comment: 16 pages, one table, two appendices, no figures; to appear in J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phy

Charateristics of some heavy metals in acid sulfate topsoils, eastern Australia

Forty-five acid sulfate topsoil samples (depth \u3c 0.5 m) from 15 soil cores at 11 locations along the New South Wales coast, Australia, were selected to investigate the chemical behaviour of Zn, Mn, Cr, Co and Pb in these soils. The amount of HCl-extractable Mn was much smaller than the mean value of the total Mn documented for other soils. This may be attributed to enhanced mobilization of Mn from the soils under the extremely acidic and seasonally flooded conditions encountered in the investigated soils. The pH-dependency of soluble Zn and Mn was strongly affected by the availability of acid reactive Zn and Mn compounds. There were fairly good relationships between soluble Zn and acid reactive Zn compounds, and between soluble Mn and acid reactive Mn compounds. Soluble Zn and soluble Mn concentrations were important controls on exchangeable Zn and Mn concentrations, respectively. In contrast to the suggestion by other authors that adsorption of Co was closely associated with Mn oxides present in soils, the exchangeable Co in the investigated acid sulfate soils was not clearly related to the abundance of Mn minerals. In addition to the fact that there are few Mn minerals present in the soils, this might also be because the availability of cation exchange sites on the crystal surfaces of Mn oxides was reduced under extremely acidic conditions

3D Digitalization of the Human Body for Use in Orthotics and Prosthetics

The motivation of this work was to find a suitable 3D scanner for human body parts digitalization in the field of prosthetics and orthotics. The main project objective is to compare the three hand-held portable scanners (two optical and one laser) and two optical tripod scanners. The comparison was made with respect of scanning detail, simplicity of operation and ability to scan directly on the human body. Testing was carried out on a plaster cast of the upper limb and directly on a few volunteers. The objective monitored parameters were time of digitizing and post-processing of 3D data and resulting visual data quality. Subjectively, it was considered level of usage and handling of the scanner. The new tripod was developed to improve the face scanning conditions. The results provide an overview of the suitability of different types of scanners

Techniques for revegetation of acid sulfate soil scalds in the coastal floodplains of New South Wales, Australia: ridging, mulching and liming in the absence of stock grazing

Two revegetation field trials were undertaken on chronically bare acid sulfate soil scalds on grazing properties in the Hawkesbury and Macleay catchments of New South Wales, Australia. The aim was to test the effectiveness of various low cost and readily accessible techniques to encourage revegetation (via existing seedbank or surrounding vegetation) of the scalded sites. The trial at the more efficiently drained Hawkesbury site used a combined treatment of ridging (R), mulching (M) and liming (L) (i.e. R–M–L) compared with a control, within a fenced area. At the more waterlogged Macleay site, various elements of the combined treatment (i.e. R, M, R–M, R–L, R–M–L) were compared with a control, within a fenced area. Vegetation occurrence, biomass and species were tested, along with pertinent soil parameters (pH, salinity, soil moisture, soluble metals). Soil testing was undertaken at 2 depth levels to represent the seed germination zone (0–1 cm), and the potential root zone (1–10 cm). At the Hawkesbury site, the combined treatment (R–M–L) caused significantly greater vegetation occurrence and biomass, lower salinity, higher pH and increased soil moisture. At the Macleay site, results were more variable, but similar to the Hawkesbury trial as the site dried out. Mulching was the single most important treatment. All mulched sites had significantly more vegetation than the control, reaching 100% coverage in the R–M–L plots. Stock exclusion alone produced minimal results. Ridging alone was counterproductive. Liming without mulching caused proliferation of an insubstantial and transient vegetation species (Isolepis inundata). Most interesting was the different vegetation species encouraged by the different mulch treatments: treatment M was dominated by the sedge, Eleocharis acuta; treatment R–M was an even mix of Eleocharis acuta and native water-tolerant grasses (Paspalum distichum and Pseudoraphis paradoxa); treatment R–M–L was dominated by the aforementioned native grasses. These grasses are highly favoured for both economic (highly palatable to stock) and environmental (thick mulch cover, self seeding) objectives. The results demonstrate that revegetation of acid sulfate soil scalds is possible, and different treatments can influence vegetation species composition