The Sacred Qualities of the Mundane: Using Music and Architecture to Achieve Harmony in the Workplace

This thesis project is intended to critique the daily ritual we fall into has humans. We wake up, go to work, come home and to do it all again tomorrow. How can we design the workplace to be a space that makes you want to be there? Through the metaphor of music and a symphony orchestra, this thesis investigates achieving a harmony in the workplace. One that promotes a sense of community and belonging and works to restore our natural rhythms as humans

Plasma Lipid, Glucose, and Immune Responses to Consumption of Nutritive and Nonnutritive Sweeteners and Exercise

Although nonnutritive sweeteners are widely used as substitutes for nutritive sweeteners, it is currently uncertain how these commonly available sweeteners affect plasma glucose and lipid metabolism. PURPOSE: To examine how nutritive and nonnutritive sweeteners influence plasma lipid profiles, complete blood counts, and plasma glucose content at rest and during exercise. METHODS: This randomized, double-blinded, cross-over design study included 9 healthy, college aged, individuals (4 females and 5 males). In four separate visits, participants consumed 8 oz of sweetened drink in random order with either 445mg of stevia, 507mg of aspartame, 169mg of sucralose, or 110,000mg of sucrose mixed into water. Each sweetened drink contained the equivalent to 3 sodas worth of sweetener. Participants had 2 minutes to consume each drink, then they rested in a chair for 30 minutes. At completion of 30 minutes of resting, participants completed a single bout of aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer at 70% of HRmax for 45 minutes. Overnight fasting blood samples were collected at baseline, 30-min post-consumption of sweetened drink, and immediately post-exercise. RESULTS: At the 30-min post-consumption of the sweetened drink, plasma glucose level was significantly higher after consumption of sucrose (115.8 ± 6.14 mg/dL) than either sucralose (87.2 ± 7.09 mg/dL, p=.032) or stevia (86.1 ± 5.79 mg/dL, p=.010). However, the elevated plasma glucose level with sucrose was no longer significant immediately post-exercise. Following exercise, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and HDL-C were elevated (TC: 152.7 ± 9.66 to 158.6 ± 9.26 mg/dL, pCONCLUSIONS: A rise in plasma glucose 30-min post-consumption of sucrose, which returned to baseline levels post-exercise, indicates that the plasma glucose may have been used as a substrate during exercise. Nonnutritive sweeteners, however, likely had no effect on substrate utilization throughout exercise, since there was no significant change in plasma glucose from baseline through exercise. The decrease in lymphocytes, along with a rise in neutrophils, while still in their respective normal range, may suggest an acute immune response to sweetener consumption

Assessment of Total Plasma Macronutrient Contents By Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy Following High-fat Diet and Exercise

High fat-low carbohydrate (HFLC) diets are a common approach to enhancing overall health and performance in endurance runners. Total macronutrient contents in plasma may change in response to diet and exercise. PURPOSE: To examine the responses of total plasma macronutrient contents in trained males following dietary manipulation in combination with aerobic exercise. METHODS: Eight distance runners that typically consumed high-carbohydrate (HC) diets switched to a HFLC diet for 3 weeks. The caloric intake during the HFLC intervention derived from 70% fats with ≤ 50g of carbohydrates. Participants maintained their normal fitness routines. Indoor treadmill exercise for 50 minutes at varying race paces followed by an outdoor 5-km time trial were completed during the HC and HFLC trials. Overnight fasting blood samples were collected before (baseline) and after exercise (24-hours) to analyze changes in total plasma lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates using attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR). The O-H stretch vibrational band of water was used to normalize the IR spectra of the plasma. Protein content was quantified by measuring the amide I peak intensity at 1600–1700 cm-1 which corresponded to the C=O stretch vibration mode. For the lipids and carbohydrates, the plasma samples were lyophilized and measured at 2800–3000 cm-1 intensities (C-H stretching vibration in acyl chains) and 800–1200 cm-1 (C-O-C vibration mode), respectively. RESULTS: The ATR FT-IR analysis found that, independent of diet or exercise, there were no significant changes in total plasma proteins (HC baseline=135.20±4.20, HC post-exercise = 134.44±4.31, HFLC baseline=135.24±3.91, and HFLC post-exercise=135.93±2.52 AU). However, a significant accumulation of lipids (30.06±7.75 AU, 95% CI=6.93) and carbohydrates (42.92±11.62 AU, 95% CI=10.39) were observed at the HC baseline as compared to the HFLC baseline (28.29±7.56 and 38.47±13.08, respectively). In addition, total lipids in the HC diet significantly decreased at 24-hours post-exercise (from 30.06±7.75 to 28.51±7.91 AU, p=0.016). CONCLUSION: Amid the high carbohydrate diet, 24 hours post-exercise total lipid contents decreased, suggesting that lipids consumed as a primary energy substrate during exercise did not recover to baseline levels within 24 hours. Additionally, both lipids and carbohydrate contents were elevated following high-carbohydrate diet, possibly due to elevated plasma lipids resulting from decreased insulin sensitivity. In contrast, no significant changes occurred with the high fat diet

Effects and Implications of Wearing a Face Mask on Cardiopulmonary Performance During Exercise

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has prompted the use of a face mask (FM) to minimize the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19. The use of an FM being an accepted precautionary measure to reduce viral transmission, there is a need for examining the physiological effects of wearing an FM, specifically during exercise. PURPOSE: To assess the impact of wearing a surgical FM on cardiopulmonary parameters and exercise performance. METHODS: Nine males and 9 females (age = 21.6 ± 2.5 yrs; BMI = 24.4 ± 3.1 kg/m2) participated in 2 laboratory visits where they completed a graded maximal exercise test using a modified Bruce Protocol. Participants were randomized to which laboratory visit they would complete first, with face mask (WFM) or without face mask (WOFM), which were performed at least 48 hours apart. Expired gases, blood pressure, heart rate, blood O2 saturation including perfusion index, and the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) were measured and compared between the WFM and WOFM trials at 6 different intensities (rest, 40%, 55%, 70%, 80%, and 100% VO2max), using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in VO2 (p = 0.001 and n2 = 0.73) between the WFM (38.5 ± 6.8 mL/kg/min) and WOFM (44.3 ± 7.4 mL/kg/min) trials only at the 100% VO2max intensity, where significantly lower values were also found during the WFM trial for respiratory rate (40.0 ± 6.8 vs 47.8 ± 8.9 bpm, p = 0.001, n2 = 0.62), respiratory exchange ratio (1.07 ± 0.08 vs 1.14 ± 0.64, p = 0.001, n2 = 0.52), and the partial pressure of expired oxygen (125.7 ± 3.5 vs 129.4 ± 3.1 mmHg, p = 0.0001, n2 = 0.54). In contrast, the partial pressure of expired carbon dioxide (32.8 ± 3.1 vs 30.8 ± 3.3 mmHg, p = 0.01, n2 = 0.33) was significantly higher during the WFM trial only at 100% VO2max intensity. No other parameters significantly differed at any of the intensities. CONCLUSION: Oxygen consumption was lower with face masks only as participants advanced from 80% to maximal effort. Notably, participants had a slower respiratory rate and exhaled a higher concentration of carbon dioxide with face masks. This result suggests that expired carbon dioxide accumulated under the face masks and participants subsequently rebreathed this expired carbon dioxide. There is no evidence that suggests exercise below 80% of VO2max while wearing face masks will cause any concerning changes in cardiopulmonary parameters. However, it is recommended that future studies examine how different types of face masks may affect cardiopulmonary function during exercise in a variety of subject populations

Changes in Visceral Adipose Tissue and Body Composition After a Short-term Hypocaloric High-fat Diet

Introduction: Elevated cardiometabolic risk is linked with excess visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and high-fat (HF) diets are often used to combat unfavorable body composition. Purpose: To investigate the connection between HF diets and body composition, more specifically VAT. Methods: 12 healthy, sedentary individuals participated in a randomized, cross-over design study. A two-week HF or high-carbohydrate (HC) diet with a 20% total reduction in total caloric intake from their typical diet was randomly assigned to each participant. The HF diet consisted of 70% fat and 30% carbohydrate and protein, with a limit of 50 grams of carbohydrate, while the HC diet consisted of 70% carbohydrate and 30% fat and protein. After the two-weeks of their first dietary intervention, participants returned to their typical diet for a one-week washout period, followed by a second two-week diet trial opposite to the first (either HC or HF). Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to assess body composition and VAT. Results: Percent body fat decreased following only the HF diet (pre-intervention: 29.70±9.75, HF: 27.65±10.55, and HC: 29.15±11.43%). Although total body massdecreased up to 1.5 kg from pre-intervention (78.07±17.36 kg) after either the HF (76.63±15.99 kg) or HC (76.24±15.71 kg) trial, this did not reach statistical significance. Following either the HF or HC diet, VAT in mass and volume decreased (429.57±225.43g and 464.42±244.02cm3, respectively). Though not statistically significant, the degree of change in VATmass and VATvolume were greater in the HF diet (374±159.59g and 404.14±172.54cm3) than the HC diet (388.71±184.73g and 420.42±199.93cm3). Conclusion: A short term hypocaloric diet of either HC or HF did not result in a significant change in body composition. Despite this, a strong trend demonstrated that hypocaloric diets, whether HF or HC, could reduce total body weight. VAT and body fat percentage may be decreased most effectively by HF diets. Our study observed changes after two-week dietary interventions in healthy, sedentary individuals. Future studies examining HF diets in a variety of subject populations over a long term may provide more accurate information regarding a role of HF diets on visceral adipose tissue and body composition

Dan Walbolt

Dan Walbolt, Sr. discusses the atmosphere of the University of South Florida during the height of the Vietnam protests including specific demonstrations that took place on USF\u27s Tampa Campus. Mr. Walbolt also talks on events in USF history such as the development of the Sun Dome and changes in student housing

Evaluating Changes in Family Functioning following the Shapedown Program

Obesity is the scourge of a large percentage of American youths today imposing devastating health consequences. Poor family functioning has been associated with being overweight among adolescents. Family-based weight management programs that enhance family functioning while providing nutritional and exercise counseling may be beneficial. Improved family functioning (cohesion, conflict, moral religious emphasis) may be associated with lower familial stress which may improve lifestyle habits and thereby reduce obesity and its risk factors. Shapedown is an eight-week weight management program for overweight children and adolescents designed to help improve nutrition, physical activity habits and family functioning by incorporating cognitive, behavioral, affective, and relationship techniques. Previous research has not investigated whether changes in weight and other risk factors following participation in the program are related to any family function change. The current study assessed perceived family functioning among overweight adolescents and evaluated the Shapedown program to assess the relationship between changes in family functioning scores and in anthropometric measures (BMI and waist-hip ratio). Fifty-six, predominantly Hispanic overweight adolescents, aged 10–16 years, participated in Shapedown interventions in San Mateo County, California. This study uncovered differences in overweight adolescents’ perceived family functioning as it relates to parents marital status, age, family size, and race. The Shapedown intervention was associated with reduced BMI and decreased waist-hip-ratio among overweight adolescents, however, this study did not find a correlation between changes in BMI and changes in family functioning nor changes in waist-hip ratio and family functioning

Dan Walbolt

Dan Walbolt, Sr. discusses the atmosphere of the University of South Florida during the height of the Vietnam protests including specific demonstrations that took place on USF\u27s Tampa Campus. Mr. Walbolt also talks on events in USF history such as the development of the Sun Dome and changes in student housing

SQUAT DEPTH IMPACTS ON JOINT SPECIFIC VERTICAL JUMP

Wyatt Baggett, Jarrett Walbolt. Montreat College, Montreat, NC. BACKGROUND: Previous studies have investigated the impact of squat depth in training on vertical jump, but study into the use of specific joint angles is still needed. Explosive sports such as basketball and football often require athletes to jump out of shallow joint angles. Understanding training within these shallow joint angles is critical to enhancing athletic performance. The purpose of the proposed study is to see how training squats from different depths impacts vertical jump height and maximal isometric force from different joint angles. METHODS: 40 resistance trained athletes will complete a nine week training program. They will be randomly assigned to one of four groups. Each group will consist of their regular training with either full squats, half squats, or quarter squats added in addition. The fourth group will complete a progression consisting of three weeks of full squats, three weeks of half squats, then three weeks of quarter squats. All squats will be front squats. At baseline, vertical jump from specific joint angles via jump mat and maximal isometric force from different joint angles via biodex will be measured. After the nine week training protocol, the tests done at baseline will be repeated to test for changes. A repeated measures ANOVA will be used to detect significant effects of the training. ANTICIPATED RESULTS: It is expected that the group that progresses through each squat type will induce the greatest increases in vertical jump height and maximal isometric force, particularly at shallow joint angles. It is hypothesized that deep squats create greater gains in general strength, which translates to strength in more specific joint angles, such as quarter squats