Mobile Technology in Higher Education – Give it a Go: A Perspective from Bioscience

Barriers, as perceived by teachers, towards the acceptance of new and emerging technologies in teaching and learning are well reported in the literature. This article offers a reflection upon a project that observed student use of mobile technologies to support their learning. It was apparent that the main use of the technology was for self-directed learning and not for subject-specific studies or use within the classroom. It is suggested that teaching staff need not feel pressured by students to be technology experts and are encouraged to work in partnership with their students to evaluate the potential of such technologies for supporting learning

Quantifying the Effect of Carbohydrate Mouth Rinsing on Exercise Performance

The purpose of this study was to review the existing literature investigating carbohydrate mouth rinsing (CMR) as an ergogenic aid by using the effect sizes and percentage change in performance of the respective studies as outcome measures. A trivial-small average overall effect size was present for the 25 studies included in the review (0.18, 95% CI = 0.10 to 0.27). Effect sizes for the sub-groups were; ≥25-min (0.25, 95% CI = 0.14 to 0.36), ≤ 180 seconds (0.06, 95% CI = -0.03 to 0.15), resistance exercise (-0.09, 95% CI -0.20 to 0.03) but the effect size is still small. A sub-analysis of ~1-h cycling time trial performance resulted in an overall effect size of 0.20 (95% CI = 0.02 to 0.38), and effect sizes for performance time and power output of 0.31 (95% CI = -0.02 to 0.64) and 0.19 (95% CI = -0.09 to 0.46) respectively. Whilst effect sizes were small the average percentage change in performance in ~1-h trials was 2.48%, which may have implications for elite performers as this is greater than the 1.30% smallest worthwhile change recommended in past research

Impaired Insulin Profiles Following a Single Night of Sleep Restriction: The Impact of Acute Sprint Interval Exercise

Experimental sleep restriction (SR) has demonstrated reduced insulin sensitivity in healthy individuals. Exercise is well-known to be beneficial for metabolic health. A single bout of exercise has the capacity to increase insulin sensitivity for up to 2 days. Therefore, the current study aimed to determine if sprint interval exercise could attenuate the impairment in insulin sensitivity after one night of SR in healthy males. Nineteen males were recruited for this randomized crossover study which consisted of four conditions—control, SR, control plus exercise, and sleep restriction plus exercise. Time in bed was 8 hr (2300–0700) in the control conditions and 4 hr (0300–0700) in the SR conditions. Conditions were separated by a 1-week entraining period. Participants slept at home, and compliance was assessed using wrist actigraphy. Following the night of experimental sleep, participants either conducted sprint interval exercise or rested for the equivalent duration. An oral glucose tolerance test was then conducted. Blood samples were obtained at regular intervals for measurement of glucose and insulin. Insulin concentrations were higher in SR than control (p = .022). Late-phase insulin area under the curve was significantly lower in sleep restriction plus exercise than SR (862 ± 589 and 1,267 ± 558; p = .004). Glucose area under the curve was not different between conditions (p = .207). These findings suggest that exercise improves the late postprandial response following a single night of SR

Perceived stress in university students studying in a further education college

Previous research investigating perceived stress and mental health in UK University students have used a sample population from Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), and to the authors’ knowledge, there is no literature specifically examining stress in a student population within a higher education-in-further education environment (HE-in-FE). The aim of the current study was to address this gap in the literature by investigating the perceived stress of HE-in-FE students. 94 participants (age = 28.7 ± 9.6 years) completed the perceived stress scale (PSS-10) with a mean score of 17.9 (± 7.2). The unidimensional measure was correlated with various demographical characteristics including age, sex, employment, self-directed study time, and time spent caring for others (e.g. children). Findings are comparable to investigations that have previously used students at HEIs, it can be suggested that despite the different context in which HE-in-FE students complete their HE study, and the ‘untraditional’ demographic from which they come, levels of perceived stress appear to be comparable to the ‘traditional’ undergraduate. Further analysis revealed significantly greater perceived stress in female students and it is recommended that future work employs a mixed methods approach to further examine the implications and possible reasons for this

Validity of Freely Available Mobile Applications for Recording Resting Heart Rate

This study examined the accuracy of mobile applications that measure heart rate by comparing results to a Polar heart rate monitor. Volunteers had their heart rate measured via four different methods whilst being simultaneously recorded with the Polar monitor; 1) manual (MAN), 2) Tap the Pulse (TAP), 3) Cardiio (CAR), 4) What’s my Heart Rate (WMHR). There were no significant differences between any of the methods and Polar monitor (p ≥ 0.159), with WMHR having the strongest relationship (r2 = 0.918) followed by MAN (r2 = 0.851), CAR (r2 = 0.646) andTAP (r2 = 0.636) respectively

Implications of a pre-exercise alkalosis-mediated attenuation of HSP72 on its response to a subsequent bout of exercise

The aim of this study was to investigate if a pre-exercise alkalosis-mediated attenuation of HSP72 had any effect on the response of the same stress protein after a subsequent exercise. Seven physically active males [25.0 ± 6.5 years, 182.1 ± 6.0 cm, 74.0 ± 8.3 kg, peak aerobic power (PPO) 316 ± 46 W] performed a repeated sprint exercise (EXB1) following a dose of 0.3 g kg⁻¹ body mass of sodium bicarbonate (BICARB), or a placebo of 0.045 g kg⁻¹ body mass of sodium chloride (PLAC). Participants then completed a 90-min intermittent cycling protocol (EXB2). Monocyte expressed HSP72 was significantly attenuated after EXB1 in BICARB compared to PLAC, however, there was no difference in the HSP72 response to the subsequent EXB2 between conditions. Furthermore there was no difference between conditions for measures of oxidative stress (protein carbonyl and HSP32). These findings confirm the sensitivity of the HSP72 response to exercise-induced changes in acid–base status in vivo, but suggest that the attenuated response has little effect upon subsequent stress in the same day

Repeated supra-maximal sprint cycling with and without sodium bicarbonate supplementation induces endothelial microparticle release

Under normal homeostatic conditions, the endothelium releases microparticles (MP), which are known to increase under stressful conditions and in disease states. CD105 (endoglin) and CD106 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) are expressed on the surface of endothelial cells and increased expression in response to stress may be observed. A randomised-controlled double-blinded study aimed to examine the use of endothelial microparticles as a marker for the state of one’s endothelium, as well as whether maintaining acid-base homeostasis affects the release of these MP. This study tested seven healthy male volunteers, who completed a strenuous cycling protocol, with venous blood analysed for CD105+ and CD106+ MP by flow cytometry at regular intervals. Prior to each trial participants consumed either 0.3 g·kg-1 body mass of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), or 0.045 g·kg-1 body mass of sodium chloride (NaCl). A significant rise in endothelial CD105+MP and CD106+MP (p < 0.05) was observed at 90 minutes post exercise. A significant trend was shown for these MP to return to resting levels 180 minutes post exercise in both groups. No significance was found between experimental groups, suggesting that maintaining acid-base variables closer to basal levels has little effect upon the endothelial stress response for this particular exercise mode. In conclusion, strenuous exercise is accompanied by MP release and the endothelium is able to rapidly recover in healthy individuals, whilst maintaining acid-base homeostasis does not attenuate the MP release from the endothelium after exercise

An investigation into a contactless photoplethysmographic mobile application to record heart rate post-exercise: Implications for field testing

to record post-exercise heart rate and estimate maximal aerobic capacity after the Queen’s College Step Test. It was hypothesised that the CPA may present a cost effective heart rate measurement tool for educators and practitioners with limited access to specialised laboratory equipment. Materials and Methods: seventeen participants (eleven males and six females, 28 ± 9 years, 75.5 ± 15.5 kg, 173.6 ± 9.8 cm) had their heart rate measured immediately after the 3-min test simultaneously using the CPA, a wireless heart rate monitor (HRM) and manually via palpation of the radial artery (MAN). Results: both the CPA and MAN measurements had high variance compared to the HRM (CV = 31 and 11% respectively, ES = 1.79 and 0.65 respectively), and there were no significant correlations between the methods. Maximal oxygen consumption was estimated 17% higher in CPA compared to HRM (p < 0.001). Conclusions: in conclusion it is recommended that field practitioners should exercise caution and assess the accuracy of new freely available technologies if they are to be used in practice

Implications of a Pre-Exercise Alkalosis Mediated Attenuation of HSP72 on its Response to a Subsequent Bout of Exercise

The aim of this study was to investigate if a pre-exercise alkalosis mediated attenuation of HSP72 had any effect on the response of the same stress protein after a subsequent exercise. Seven physically active males (25.0 ± 6.5 years, 182.1 ± 6.0 cm, 74.0 ± 8.3 kg, peak aerobic power (PPO) 316 ± 46 W) performed a repeated sprint exercise (EXB1) following a dose of 0.3 g kg-1 body mass of sodium bicarbonate (BICARB), or a placebo of 0.045 g kg-1 body mass of sodium chloride (PLAC). Participants then completed a 90-min intermittent cycling protocol (EXB2). Monocyte expressed HSP72 was significantly attenuated after EXB1 in BICARB compared to PLAC, however there was no difference in the HSP72 response to the subsequent EXB2 between conditions. Furthermore there was no difference between conditions for measures of oxidative stress (protein carbonyl and HSP32). These findings confirm the sensitivity of the HSP72 response to exercise induced changes in acid-base status in vivo, but suggest that the attenuated response has little effect upon subsequent stress in the same day

A Case Study of Using Mobile Applications and Peripherals to Encourage “Real-Life” Critical Analysis in Human Physiology

This paper shares a practice of encouraging critical analysis in science students by comparing mobile applications and peripherals to traditional tools to record physiological variables such as heart rate and blood pressure. A progressive series of case studies is described with learning outcomes mapped to the benchmark statement for Bioscience from the United Kingdom's Quality Assurance Agency. A student reflection and staff commentary of the practice is also offered