Fun versus Practical: Physiological Responses and Preference of Exercise Equipment

The elliptical cross trainer has become a popular a mode of exercise, but can only be used indoors. The StreetStrider was designed as an outdoor elliptical-bike. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine whether the elliptical or the StreetStrider was more enjoyable, and to compare the physiological variables for energy expenditure, heart rate (HR), VO2, and Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE). METHODS: Thirty participants (15 male, 15 female, mean age=22±2) from Cleveland State University exercised for 20 minutes at 75% of their age predicted maximal heart rate on the StreetStrider and elliptical. Energy expenditure was measured with a COSMED K4b metabolic system. Participants’ RPE was recorded every five minutes using the Borg Scale for Rate of Perceived Exertion. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 18. A paired sample t-test compared physiological responses. A one-way ANOVA analyzed gender differences. A significance level of .05 was used to determine significance. RESULTS: No significant differences were shown in energy expenditure (p=.930), HR (p=.098), or in average RPE (p=.529) between the exercise trials. A preference survey concluded that most subjects found the StreetStrider more enjoyable than the elliptical. CONCLUSION: The StreetStrider is more enjoyable than the elliptical and as effective in energy expenditure, and could serve as a substitute for the elliptical.https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/u_poster_2014/1034/thumbnail.jp

Comparison of Electronic and Mechanical Handgrip Devices in Lowering Blood Pressure

Hypertension causes billions of deaths per year (Millar et al., 2013). The Zona PlusTM is an expensive tool designed to lower blood pressure (BP) using isometric exercise. This exercise may be achieved using a less expensive Handgrip Dynamometer. PURPOSE: The purpose of this research is to determine if the Zona or Handgrip Dynamometer is more efficient at lowering BP and most cost effective for patients. METHODS: Twenty subjects used the Zona and twenty subjects used the dynamometer three times per week for six weeks. BP was taken once per week prior to the treatment. A maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) was recorded for each hand before every treatment. Participants were required to hold the handgrip at 30% of their MVC for four two-minute contractions. A paired samples T test was used to analyze changes in participants’ BP. A one-way ANOVA was used to compare the BP changes between the Zona and the Handgrip. RESULTS: The results indicated no significant changes in participants’ pre- and post- treatment after training when using the Zona for either stolic (p=0.225) or diastolic BP (p=1.000). There was also no significant difference in participants’ post treatment systolic BP (p=0.199), however, the post treatment for diastolic increased significantly (p=0.027 BP between those that used the Zona PlusTM and Handgrip Dynamometer. CONCLUSION: Though the Dynamometer is more cost efficient, neither the Zona nor the Dynamometer resulted in lowered BP.https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/u_poster_2014/1037/thumbnail.jp

Promoting healthy futures in a rural refugee resettlement location: A community-based participatory research intervention

The resettlement of refugees in rural areas is presenting new challenges for healthcare. This article reports on a community-based participatory research project that explored understandings of health and care across the life course in a refugee-background community in regional south-east Australia. Participants identified key challenges, including lack of access to local services that address their complex needs and problems created by communicating across languages, cultures, and ontologies. Clear opportunities were identified for improving local health services to meet the needs of refugee-background communities. Building on participant recommendations, we argue that appropriate, high-quality healthcare requires the cultivation of dialogue and respect across different understandings of health and care. We suggest that approaches grounded in an ethos of collaboration, power-sharing and dialogue provide a way forward, not just for research, but for embedding practices of cultural safety in rural and regional resettlement

The Role of the U5 snRNP in Genetic Disorders and Cancer

Pre-mRNA splicing is performed by the spliceosome, a dynamic macromolecular complex consisting of five small uridine-rich ribonucleoprotein complexes (the U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6 snRNPs) and numerous auxiliary splicing factors. A plethora of human disorders are caused by genetic variants affecting the function and/or expression of splicing factors, including the core snRNP proteins. Variants in the genes encoding proteins of the U5 snRNP cause two distinct and tissue-specific human disease phenotypes – variants in PRPF6, PRPF8, and SNRP200 are associated with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), while variants in EFTUD2 and TXNL4A cause the craniofacial disorders mandibulofacial dysostosis Guion-Almeida type (MFDGA) and Burn-McKeown syndrome (BMKS), respectively. Furthermore, recurrent somatic mutations or changes in the expression levels of a number of U5 snRNP proteins (PRPF6, PRPF8, EFTUD2, DDX23, and SNRNP40) have been associated with human cancers. How and why variants in ubiquitously expressed spliceosome proteins required for pre-mRNA splicing in all human cells result in tissue-restricted disease phenotypes is not clear. Additionally, why variants in different, yet interacting, proteins making up the same core spliceosome snRNP result in completely distinct disease outcomes – RP, craniofacial defects or cancer – is unclear. In this review, we define the roles of different U5 snRNP proteins in RP, craniofacial disorders and cancer, including how disease-associated genetic variants affect pre-mRNA splicing and the proposed disease mechanisms. We then propose potential hypotheses for how U5 snRNP variants cause tissue specificity resulting in the restricted and distinct human disorders

Collaborative Study of Trimtect®️ as a Plant Growth Regulator on Shrub Physiology and Drought Tolerance

Color poster with text, photographs, and graphs.Paclobutrazol is a synthetic plant growth regulator known to reduce the size of plants and improve drought tolerance in some species. Paclobutrazol blocks a key step in the formation of gibberellic acid (GA), a plant hormone that stimulates growth and development, therefore resulting in modified growth. Trimtect, a product made by Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements (Minneapolis, MN), incorporates paclobutrazol and is being formulated for commercial use, as some of the associated changes in growth are desirable from a landscaping maintenance point of view. However, a better understanding and record of physiological responses to Trimtect treatments are needed. Therefore, to better understand plant growth regulation, we partnered with Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements to study the effects of their current Trimtect formulation on the physiology of three common shrub species undergoing water stress. The information from this study is helping Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements refine formulations to improve their product for use in low maintenance landscapes.University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program

Fun versus Practical: Physiological Responses and Preference of Exercise Equipment

The elliptical cross trainer has become a popular a mode of exercise, but can only be used indoors. The StreetStrider was designed as an outdoor elliptical-bike. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine whether the elliptical or the StreetStrider was more enjoyable, and to compare the physiological variables for energy expenditure, heart rate (HR), VO2, and Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE). METHODS: Thirty participants (15 male, 15 female, mean age=22±2) from Cleveland State University exercised for 20 minutes at 75% of their age predicted maximal heart rate on the StreetStrider and elliptical. Energy expenditure was measured with a COSMED K4b metabolic system. Participants’ RPE was recorded every five minutes using the Borg Scale for Rate of Perceived Exertion. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 18. A paired sample t-test compared physiological responses. A one-way ANOVA analyzed gender differences. A significance level of .05 was used to determine significance. RESULTS: No significant differences were shown in energy expenditure (p=.930), HR (p=.098), or in average RPE (p=.529) between the exercise trials. A preference survey concluded that most subjects found the StreetStrider more enjoyable than the elliptical. CONCLUSION: The StreetStrider is more enjoyable than the elliptical and as effective in energy expenditure, and could serve as a substitute for the elliptical.https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/u_poster_2014/1034/thumbnail.jp

Comparison of Electronic and Mechanical Handgrip Devices in Lowering Blood Pressure

Hypertension causes billions of deaths per year (Millar et al., 2013). The Zona PlusTM is an expensive tool designed to lower blood pressure (BP) using isometric exercise. This exercise may be achieved using a less expensive Handgrip Dynamometer. PURPOSE: The purpose of this research is to determine if the Zona or Handgrip Dynamometer is more efficient at lowering BP and most cost effective for patients. METHODS: Twenty subjects used the Zona and twenty subjects used the dynamometer three times per week for six weeks. BP was taken once per week prior to the treatment. A maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) was recorded for each hand before every treatment. Participants were required to hold the handgrip at 30% of their MVC for four two-minute contractions. A paired samples T test was used to analyze changes in participants’ BP. A one-way ANOVA was used to compare the BP changes between the Zona and the Handgrip. RESULTS: The results indicated no significant changes in participants’ pre- and post- treatment after training when using the Zona for either stolic (p=0.225) or diastolic BP (p=1.000). There was also no significant difference in participants’ post treatment systolic BP (p=0.199), however, the post treatment for diastolic increased significantly (p=0.027 BP between those that used the Zona PlusTM and Handgrip Dynamometer. CONCLUSION: Though the Dynamometer is more cost efficient, neither the Zona nor the Dynamometer resulted in lowered BP.https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/u_poster_2014/1037/thumbnail.jp

Father-daughter incest: Comparison of treated cases to untreated control subjects

Treatment of father daughter incest (FDI) survivors using the victim advocacy/child welfare approach to FDI that predominates today in the US has never been compared to results in untreated control subjects in any published report. In the present study, thirty-two survivors of FDI who received treatment based on the victim advocacy/child welfare approach to FDI were compared to 32 control subjects who did not receive treatment. No significant differences were found using analysis of variance on 21 scales and subscales. Statistical analysis of the data from all 64 of the FDI survivors showed that items reflecting a poor self-image and a history of maternal depression predicted more problematic scores on the depression scale. Those who scored higher on religiosity were less likely to be depressed. Redesigned therapy for FDI aimed, first and foremost, at healing the survivors and validated by prospective randomized trials is needed

Sexual imprinting of offspring on their parents and siblings

Based on data provided anonymously by 2,611 women and 1,452 men using a computerized questionnaire, we found that 19.2% of women vs. 16% of men (p < .001) were aware of being attracted to people with physical characteristics resembling members of their nuclear families, a phenomenon called sexual imprinting. Women reported sexual imprinting on fathers (15.5%), brothers (2.5%), mothers (0.8%), and sisters (0.4%), and men reported sexual imprinting on mothers (11.5%), sisters (2.1%), fathers (1.9%), and brothers (0.5%). The likelihood of women imprinting on fathers increased when fathers were more affectionate to them and when parents were more affectionate to each other. The likelihood of women imprinting on brothers increased when they had an older brother. The likelihood of women imprinting on mothers increased when parents divorced or separated and there was a remarriage. The likelihood of men imprinting on mothers increased when mothers had a positive attitude about sex. It decreased if they had an older brother and increased if they had been the victim of child sexual abuse (CSA) by an adult female. The likelihood of men imprinting on sisters was increased if parents were affectionate to each other. Three factors predicted the likelihood of men imprinting on fathers

Effects of the sex of the perpetrator on victims’ subsequent sexual behaviors and adulthood sexual orientations

Data from 2,828 female and 1,556 male adult participants from a general population convenience sample were used to measure the effect of the sex of the perpetrator on the adult sexual orientation of the victims of child sexual abuse (CSA) by adult male or female perpetrators and early incest with parents or early incest with siblings. Sexual behaviors with female perpetrators tended to promote an orientation toward sex with females and analogous behaviors with male perpetrators tended to promote an orientation toward sex with males in victims of both sexes. Many forms of incest or CSA increased the likelihood the victims would subsequently engage in behaviors with other partners or begin masturbating using adult male or female images. The subsequent early behaviors with other partners and masturbating using images of both male and female adults significantly enhanced or attenuated the conditioning resulting from interacting with the initial perpetrator. The victims’ adult sexual orientations could be statistically predicted using regression equations that took into account the sexual behaviors with both adult and underage partners and whether or not the participant had masturbated using images of male or female adults. The results were consistent with conditioning and counter-conditioning theories