28729 research outputs found
Sort by
ACL Injury Prevention Participation Among Collegiate Female Athletes
Get PDFBackground
A common injury for athletes is a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament, with a disproportionally higher rate of injury among female athletes than male athletes due to many anatomical and physiological differences. One of the proposed causes of increased injury is the difference in hormone levels during the phases of the menstrual cycle. Even though ACL injury prevention programs have been used to help reduce the number of injuries among athletes, it is not yet well known if changing hormone levels throughout the menstrual cycle is predictive of ACL injury risk among athletes that engage in injury prevention programs and those that do not. Here, we use the Lower Extremity Scoring System (LESS) as a way to evaluate an athlete’s risk of sustaining an ACL injury for athletes that have and have not participated in ACL injury prevention and correlate those scores with phases of the menstrual cycle.
Methods
122 female collegiate athletes were tested using the LESS model and a questionnaire on the injury prevention and menstrual cycle history of the athlete. The average LESS scores were compared in order to determine significant differences between athletes who had participated in injury prevention, and those who had not, as well as athletes in different phases of the menstrual cycle.
Results
One out of the eight teams had been actively participating in ACL injury prevention and had the lowest average LESS score of 5.43. The menstrual phases all had similar averages of LESS scores ranging from 7-8.
Conclusion
The results of the study concluded ACL injury prevention had lowered the risk of an ACL injury among female collegiate athletes However, fewer athletes were participating in ACL injury prevention than expected. The hypothesis for the menstrual cycle was rejected due to the follicular phase having the lowest average LESS score
Essential or Optional? Effects of Creative Writing on Expository Skills and Attitude in Middle School Students
Get PDFBackground: Although emotional benefits and general writing improvement have been shown to be benefits of creative writing, its effectiveness in relation to expository writing skills has not been clearly established through research. Methods: This study was conducted with two groups of middle school students at a rural middle school in Illinois. One group received ten creative writing interventions over a month and the other group continued with normal instruction. The goal was to discover if these interventions would improve students’ expository writing skills as well as their attitude towards and confidence in writing. Results: The data showed that although the experimental group did not improve significantly in either area, the control group did. However, breaking down the essay scores into categories shows that the results could have been affected by the rubric that was used. Conclusion: Overall, the study showed that more research is necessary in order to determine what type of creative writing intervention is most effective for strengthening expository writing skills
Analysis of Botulinum Toxin A and Interacting Proteins in Skeletal Muscle Cells: An Investigation into the Mechanisms behind Botulinum Toxin A as a Treatment for Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome
Get PDFBackground: Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is a condition in which muscle tissue expands against the surrounding fascia during activity and is compressed along with the nerves and blood vessels within the muscle compartment, leading to abnormally high intracompartmental pressure (ICP) and debilitating pain. Treatment typically includes fasciotomy, which results in significant levels of CECS recurrence; however, botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injection has recently been seen to decrease both ICP and pain through an unknown mechanism with little to no recurrence.
Methods: In this study, cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 receptor 4 (EP4), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were analyzed with either BoNT-A light chain or heavy chain through docking models via PyRosetta. These studies were performed in order to determine their probability of interaction.
Results: The EP4/BoNT-A heavy chain combination was found to have reaction scores most comparable to known interactions of BoNT-A in neural cells. In accordance with this finding, levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), a downstream effector of EP4, consistently increased in myoblasts treated with BoNT-A.
Conclusion: Altogether, these data uncover an area of future research in determining the interaction of BoNT-A and the EP4 pathway in muscle cells, as well as the implications this may have on CECS and its treatment
Denominational Identity and Athletic Success at Christian Colleges
No full textCompetitive pressures can dilute the denominational identity of religiously affiliated colleges as colleges shed denominational bonds in pursuit of academic prestige. We ask: What is the relationship between denominational identity and athletic success at contemporary Christian colleges? To answer, we combine data from the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) Denominational Study, Learfield Directors’ Cup, and U.S. Department of Education. Controlling for school size and athletic division, denominational identity was not significantly related to athletic success. Rather, larger CCCU schools have stronger sports, regardless of athletic division. We discuss implications and suggestions for further research
Evaluating College Students’ Health Literacy and its Effects on Their Perceptions of Information Concerning Mask-wearing in the COVID-19 Pandemic ve Information Concerning Mask-Wearing in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Get PDFBackground: Mask-wearing was a controversial and polarizing phenomenon during the COVID-19 pandemic. Beliefs concerning mask-wearing differed depending on sources of information concerning the pandemic, levels of health literacy, political leaning, demographics, or other factors. This project attempted to connect college students’ level of health literacy to their understanding of and adherence to mask-wearing in the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a gap in research connecting health literacy to understanding information concerning pandemics and an even bigger lack of studies conducted that relate college students’ health literacy to their perception of illnesses or pandemics. It is important to understand the impact of public health literacy on intake of information about illnesses and pandemics for future health crises to avoid polarization and the spread of misinformation.
Methods: An IRB-approved qualitative survey was sent to the entire student population of Olivet Nazarene University consisting of three sections: evaluation of health literacy, knowledge and adherence to masks-wearing, and demographics and psychographics. The survey received 262 responses over three weeks. Out of the 262 responses, 234 qualified for analysis. The results were compiled into a coded spreadsheet and R-studio was used to draw correlations.
Results: 219 students were evaluated as having “adequate” health literacy, and among those students twenty were determined to have a “correct” level of knowledge of and attitude toward mask-wearing. Twelve students were evaluated as likely having limited health literacy and three students as most likely having limited literacy. Females were more likely to wear masks than males, and Democrats and Independents were more likely to wear masks than Republicans. Of students with adequate health literacy, most obtained information about the pandemic through the internet, news websites and apps, and social media, and students who had a likelihood of having limited health literacy obtained most of their information from social media and the internet.
Conclusions: Health literacy did not have a statistically significant impact on a college student’s perception of mask-wearing in the COVID-19 pandemic. Sources of information like social media were used more by students with low to limited health literacy, whereas the internet and news websites and apps were consulted more by students with a higher level of health literacy. The implications of these results show that the public’s level of health literacy may have little to no impact on polarization and controversy surrounding the pandemic
Way Truth Life: Small Group Discussion Guide (Contextualized)
No full textThis small group discussion guide, written by Dr. Jeff Stark, is meant to be a companion resource for David A. Busic’s book Way, Truth, Life: Discipleship as a Journey of Grace, and used alongside the seven videos featuring David Busic. If you are a small group leader or Sunday school teacher planning to use this resource, there are numerous ways you can get the most out of this download for your context, and the materials are flexible to fit your needs.
This discussion guide can also align and be used with a six-part Way, Truth, Life sermon series grounded in the Sermon Outlines that are also part of this downloadable resource. Busic’s book has six chapters, an introduction, and an afterword. This discussion guide follows the six main chapters of the book to help you lead your group through a robust and meaningful study on discipleship and grace.
This discussion guide has been adapted for the Africa context by the SDMI development team to help make the discussion contextualized to the African culture. All stories added were to help create a greater understanding of the Journey of Grace as experienced by God’s people in various cultures
Student-Athletes’ Religious Beliefs, Religious Behaviors, and Religious Identity at a Christian University
No full textAthletics occupies an ambiguous place within the greater university mission, particularly at religious institutions. Intercollegiate sports programs may purport to reinforce the university’s aim to develop the whole person, but the nature of athletics can compromise student-athlete religiosity and well-being. Little research has focused on the religiosity of student-athletes and the potential implications for religious institutions. Our analysis features data from 884 senior students at a private, religiously affiliated, NCAA Division I university. Comparing student-athletes to non-athletes, we found that student-athletes scored higher than non-athletes on religious beliefs, religious behaviors, and sense of religious identity
The Relationship Between Food Pantry Donations and Nutritional Density of Food Selection
No full textLearning Outcome: To increase awareness of the nutrient density of food selection provided by local food pantries through purchase and donation.
Introduction: Wright et al. (2020) noted a recent shift of the need from short-term food assistance to long-term food assistance. There are concerns that food selection at the food pantries are not meeting client nutrient needs. The goal of this current study is to bring awareness to the nutritional adequacy of food donations accepted at local food pantries. To accomplish this food pantry managers need to be aware of the nutritional content of food donations for both short and long-term assistance.
Methods: A qualitative design was used. Data was collected by conducting interviews (n=7) with food pantry managers over the course of a month. Questions adapted from Barone et al., (2020) were used. Interviews took 30-60 minutes. Data was transcribed, coded, and analyzed using Thematic Analysis.
Results: Interview coded responses indicated thematically that there is a difference between food purchased vs. donated at the food pantry in terms of nutrient density. Food purchased from the food bank or donated from major grocery chains were nutritionally dense. Food from church donations varied in nutritional density. Food pantry clients prefer food they are familiar with or using as an ingredient or as a meal component.
Implications: More research is needed to investigate the nutrient density of food selection at food pantries. RDNs can provide education concerning the nutrition density of foods to managers and clients. Education could include recipes and packaging pantry items together to make meal preparation convenient. Even with the availability of nutrient dense foods, clientele still may not select healthful foods.
Funding: There was no funding for this research.
Note: This poster was accepted to be presented at the Food and Nutrition Expo and Conference (FNCE, National Conference) in October 2022 in Orlando, Florida
Historical Theology Survey Critique: Augustine of Hippo
Get PDFThis study evaluates how current historical theology survey texts understand and present the theology of Augustine. The texts are examined to assess the following: accuracy of presentation on discussed topics, specific theological topics Augustine addressed excluded in the surveys, and theological bias on the part of the authors. The historical theology surveys include Gregg Allison’s Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine, Justo González’s A History of Christian Thought, and Alister McGrath’s Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought. The three major topics treated include Augustine’s Trinitarian thought, the Donatist Controversy, and the Pelagian Controversy. The findings of this research present all examined traditions as favoring either Augustine’s biblical hermeneutic or his cultural context as most insightful in understanding and presenting his thought
Perry Center Supplemental Heating
Get PDFStudents will design a supplemental heat system to help increase the temperature of the fluid in the Geothermal heat system. Currently the Geothermal system does not provide adequate heating for Perry Center during the winter. A heat exchanger has been proposed by the Physical Plant to remedy the problem