The Effects of Habitual Protein Consumption on Vasodilation in Young Adults

Introduction: Blood pressure is a critical indicator for a number of health risks and conditions, such as hypertension (high blood pressure), heart failure, and stroke. Decreasing blood pressure occurs by vasodilation (relaxation) of blood vessels. The consumption of high amounts of protein is hypothesized to have a correlation with the vasodilation of vessels, thus creating a decrease in blood pressure. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to relate blood vessel diameter to habitual protein consumption. Our findings have the power to make individuals more aware of the effect their habitual protein intake can have on cardiovascular health. Methods: This study was comprised of 20 individuals between the ages of 18-23 years (15 females, 5 males), divided into distinct categories based on self-reported 24-hour dietary recall values. Categories were classified as the following in grams of protein for kilogram of body weight: \u3c1.2 and \u3e1.2. While continuing their normal dietary habits, blood vessel diameter was evaluated with an ultrasound machine before and after a 5-minute occlusion to determine vessel response to flow mediated dilation (FMD). Diameter measures were taken during a relaxed state with the participant lying in the supine position for a total of 9 minutes. Twelve measurements on the participant’s brachial artery of the right arm were obtained pre-occlusion and 12 post-occlusion. The average of the 12 measurements was used in all analyses to determine a pre-occlusion average value and post-occlusion average value. Results: The Repeated Measures ANOVA statistical analysis of vessel diameter change between participant groups of varying habitual protein intake was found to have no statistical significance (p \u3e .05). When analyzed for sex-related differences, pre- and post-diameter values presented a trend for statistical significance with a value of ( p= .06) between men and women. Conclusion: When analyzing the association between blood vessel diameter and habitual protein consumption with the use of FMD and ultrasound, our findings indicate there was no significant effect. As evidenced by the trend for statistical significance, there is potential for sex-related differences. This trend suggests a possible relationship between sex-related responses to vasodilation, pre- and post-occlusion; thus, further investigation is warranted

Simulation of Relativistic Electrons Through a Magnetic Chicane

Poster describing the path length differences for two relativistic electrons going through a series of four dipoles. This preliminary work will lead to full simulation of electron beam being compressed for use in an X-Ray Free Electron Laser in conjunction with magnetic quadruple lenses to create a small electron beam

Manipulation of Beams of Ultra-relativistic Electrons to Create Femtosecond X-ray Pulses

The research proposed here is expected to result in a crucial component used in a next-generation X-ray source. Typical conventional high-brightness X-ray sources (so-called synchrotron lightsources) are up to 30 football fields in size. Our group uses a novel technique based on ultrahigh-power lasers to develop a similar source that can readily fit into a single, university-scale laboratory. More specifically, the research conducted within this proposal will be concerned with the manipulation of beams of ultra-relativistic electrons, (electrons that move with almost the speed of light) with the goal to focus the particles into an area that is smaller than the diameter of a human hair. X-ray sources are commonly used to resolve the molecular constituents of matter on the atomic-scale (i.e. to spatially resolve molecular structures and dynamics on their natural length and time scale). This requires X-ray pulses with Angström wavelengths (less than a billionth meter, 10^(-10) m) and femtosecond (a millionth of a billionth second, 10^(-15) s) duration

Simulation of Relativistic Electrons Through a Magnetic Chicane

Poster describing the path length differences for two relativistic electrons going through a series of four dipoles. This preliminary work will lead to full simulation of electron beam being compressed for use in an X-Ray Free Electron Laser in conjunction with magnetic quadruple lenses to create a small electron beam

Manipulation of Beams of Ultra-relativistic Electrons to Create Femtosecond X-ray Pulses

The research proposed here is expected to result in a crucial component used in a next-generation X-ray source. Typical conventional high-brightness X-ray sources (so-called synchrotron lightsources) are up to 30 football fields in size. Our group uses a novel technique based on ultrahigh-power lasers to develop a similar source that can readily fit into a single, university-scale laboratory. More specifically, the research conducted within this proposal will be concerned with the manipulation of beams of ultra-relativistic electrons, (electrons that move with almost the speed of light) with the goal to focus the particles into an area that is smaller than the diameter of a human hair. X-ray sources are commonly used to resolve the molecular constituents of matter on the atomic-scale (i.e. to spatially resolve molecular structures and dynamics on their natural length and time scale). This requires X-ray pulses with Angström wavelengths (less than a billionth meter, 10^(-10) m) and femtosecond (a millionth of a billionth second, 10^(-15) s) duration

Three Week Hypergravity Training Intervention Decreases Ground Contact Time During Repeated Jumping and Improves Sprinting and Shuttle Running Performance

International Journal of Exercise Science 9(2): 149-158, 2016. This study examined the effects of a non-traditional training method, hypergravity training (HT), on anaerobic performance. Highly active men (n = 9) completed a 3 week HT protocol in which weighted vests were worn 8 h/day, 4+ days/week separate from training. Vest loads were 11.2 ± 0.6% of body mass during week one, and increased to 13.2 ± 0.7% (week 2), and 16.1 ± 0.4% (week 3). Performance testing included power clean 1-RM (PC), counter movement jumps, 4 continuous jumps, 36.6 m sprints (SP), a 137.2 m short shuttle run (SSR), and a 274.3 m long shuttle run (LSR). A 3 week non-hypergravity training period (NHT) proceeded HT. Baseline SP improved from 4.69 ± 0.29 s to 4.58 ± 0.22 s post-treatment, and regressed after NHT (4.69 ± 0.24 s) (p = 0.006, ES = 1.80). Improvements in SSR (p = 0.012, ES = 1.71) occurred from baseline (26.7 ± 1.5 s) to post-treatment (26.2 ± 1.4 s), followed by a return to near-baseline values (26.9 ± 1.8 s). Jumping tasks displayed similar trends, but no statistical differences and modest effect sizes (0.51 - 0.62) were found except for improved ground contact time during repeated jumps post-HT (ES = 2.26). PC and LSR performances did not improve. Three weeks of HT significantly enhanced short running task performances and decreased ground contact time between 4 continuous jumps. HT may be incorporated into training programs prior to key points in an athletic season without hindering the quality of regular training session activities

Performance and perceptual responses of collegiate female soccer players to a practical external and internal cooling protocol

International Journal of Exercise Science 8(4): 331-340, 2015. This study examined practical pre- and mid practice cooling interventions on running performance, perceived exertion (RPE), and thermal sensation (TS) during soccer. During two formal pre-season practices female, NCAA Division II soccer players participated in three, 15 min scrimmage bouts followed by a 4th 10 min bout. Following the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd bouts, 8 field position players completed competitive sets of two, 30 yard sprints against other team members with time recorded between 5 and 30 yards. After the 4th bout, players completed an indoor shuttle running beep test (BT). In the treatment group (COOL) ice towels (IT) were applied to the head and neck regions and draped across both legs for 10 min following a standardized warm-up and for 10 min during a 15 min break between the 2nd and 3rd scrimmage sessions. Sport beverage slurries (350 mL; -0.3 °C, ~6% carbohydrate) were also served during IT cooling for COOL; while the control (CON) received no IT and drank the same ,uncooled sport beverage. No main effect was found for sprint performance (COOL = 3.55 ± 0.16 s; CON = 3.51 ± 0.07 s; P = 0.51) or numbers of reps completed in the BT (COOL = 17.6 ± 5.6; CON = 17.3 ± 6.0; P = 0.88). RPE did not differ following any performance test, but TS was lower following the 3rd sprint bout (P = 0.04) and the BT (P = 0.005) for COOL. COOL promoted lower TS, but had no effect on performance

New Books and Recent Scholarship

The years since World War II have brought extensive developments in the field of corporation law and practice. Many states have enacted a completely new corporation statute\u27 or a new blue sky law. At the same time, federal corporation law and federal securities regulation have grown substantially. Legislatures and courts in many states have given some recognition to the distinctive problems of the close corporation. A number of highly publicized proxy fights have spurred developments in the law applicable to the proxy system. Some courts have enunciated interesting legal principles applicable to the sale of corporate control. And just last year Congress amended the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the creation of a new hybrid form of business organization (with potentialities for tax advantage) usually referred to as the tax-option corporation. Naturally these developments have sparked the preparation and publication of a rather vast amount of literature; much has come off the press during the last three or four years. A noteworthy characteristic of most of this literature is an emphasis on preventive law and on the planning and drafting aspects of corporate practice. This article lists and discusses briefly books and other important materials published in the United States since mid-1956. Reference is made to books scheduled to appear in the next few months whenever publishers are willing to disclose their plans

A Comparison of Long- vs. Short-Term Recall of Substance Use and HIV Risk Behaviors

OBJECTIVE: The Timeline Follow-back (TLFB) questionnaire has become a pre-eminent tool in substance use and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk research, allowing researchers to assess fine-grained changes in risk behavior over long periods. However, data on accuracy of recall over long (12-month) periods are sparse, especially combined data on HIV risk and substance use from post-treatment samples. Studies on the development of substance use and HIV risk stand to benefit from data on the accurate recall of such behavior over longer retroactive spans of time. METHOD: The present study offers data on the test-retest reliability of current TLFB assessment versus 6- and 12-month delayed TLFB assessment, using a post-treatment sample (n = 50). RESULTS: Long-term reliability of TLFB data on HIV risk was predominantly good to excellent, with 13 of 20 assessed variables in that range. TLFB data on substance use was similar, with 22 of 26 variables resulting in good/excellent reliability. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the notion that, notable exceptions aside, the TLFB may be effectively used to assess retroactive HIV risk and substance use in periods of 12 months