The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of the class activity level to the stated attitude toward physical activity for community college students. The subjects for study were community college students enrolled in their first college level physical education classes. The activity level of each class was classified by the instructor as being either no aerobic activity, moderate aerobic activity or high aerobic activity. A modified version of Keynon's Attitude Toward Physical Activity was the instrument used as a pretest and again as a posttest at the end of the one-semester classes. The A.T.P.A. consists of 54 statements that require the selection of a response that falls on a seven-item Likert Scale. The data were evaluated to determine whether the activity level of the class, the sex of the student or the age of the student was a factor of the mean score for the attitude change. A correlation matrix was developed which showed moderate correlation between pretest-posttest scores. A multivariate analysis of variance indicated there was a difference in the mean scores across the activity levels. Miltivariate analyses of covariance were perfomed controlling for pretest differences across activity levels, sex, and age. No difference was found. Class activity level, sex, and age are not factors of attitude change toward physical activity. It is recommeneded that this study be replicated with a larger population and more subjects in the higher level aerobic classes. A similar study might be done that controls for the effect of the instructor.

<p> In order to investigate possible negative effects of endurance training on muscle strength and power, 10 healthy young men underwent 10 weeks of endurance training. Subjects trained unilaterally on a cycle ergometer so that their opposite leg served as a control. Training consisted of 30 min per day for 3 days per week and progressed to 60 min per day for 5 days per week by the seventh week of training. This volume of endurance training exceeds the upper limits of that normally performed by athletes who compete in power sports. The exercise intensity was initially ~75% of pre-training maximum power output and was increased over time to maintain a training heart rate of 140-160 beats per minute. Endurance, strength, and power variables were assessed in each leg before and after the training period. Measurements included electrically stimulated twitch characteristics of the quadriceps, single-leg V̇O2peak and lactate threshold (Tlac), single-leg take-off vertical jump power indices from a force platform, and maximal leg press strength at a low-(60°/s) and high-velocity (300°/s). Needle biopsies were taken from the quadriceps femoris before and after the training period, and analyzed for fibre-type proportions, fibre area, oxidative enzyme activity and capillary density. Post-training, subjects increased leg V̇O2peak (7%) and Tlac in the trained leg. Leg press strength was unaffected by training. Vertical jump power was not impaired nor were evoked twitches. Following training, there was a decrease in % type IIb and an increase in % type IIa fibres (p<0.05). There were no significant changes in fibre area. Percent fibre area increased for type I and IIa and decreased for type IIb fibres in the trained leg (p<0.05). These data indicate that a 10-week endurance-training program increases aerobic power but does not impair muscle strength or power.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

This thesis is organized in “sandwich” format, as recommended by my supervisory committee. It consists of three main chapters. Chapter one is a general introduction and outlines the background information leading to the objectives and hypotheses of my thesis research. Chapter two is a manuscript prepared for submission to a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Chapter three is an overview of the major findings of this thesis, their implications in fish physiology and ecotoxicology, including suggestions of future directions of research. Appendix A contains data from an additional series of experiments that were conducted during my thesis but are not included as a full data chapter. It will be prepared for publication after my defence. / Hypoxia often occurs in aquatic ecosystems that receive effluent from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). WWTP effluent contains contaminants that could disrupt the complex physiological pathways fish use to cope with hypoxia (e.g., pharmaceuticals, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), but the effects of WWTP effluent on the physiological responses of fish to chronic hypoxia is poorly understood. We exposed mummichog killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) to hypoxia (5 and 2 kPa O2) and/or WWTP effluent for 21 days in a full factorial design. We then measured hypoxia tolerance, whole-animal metabolism, gill morphology, haematology, and tissue metabolites. In clean water, killifish responded to chronic hypoxia with improvements in hypoxia tolerance – increases in time to loss of equilibrium at 0.5 kPa (tLOE) and decreases in critical O2 tension (Pcrit) – in association with increased gill surface area as a result of regression of the interlamellar cell mass (ILCM). Concurrent exposure to wastewater attenuated the increases in tLOE and gill remodeling in chronic hypoxia, and nearly depleted brain glycogen stores. Therefore, exposure to WWTP effluent can disrupt the physiological mechanisms fish use to cope with chronic hypoxia and impair hypoxia tolerance. My research suggests that the combination of stressors near WWTPs can have interactive effects on the physiology and health of fish. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Low oxygen conditions, known as ‘hypoxia’, frequently occur in aquatic ecosystems that receive municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent. WWTP effluent is a continuous and complex source of pollution, including contaminants that can disrupt fish physiology, affecting their ability to cope with stressors, like hypoxia. The effects of WWTP effluent on the responses of fish to chronic hypoxia are poorly understood. To address this research gap, I examined the effects of hypoxia and WWTP effluent on chronically exposed mummichog killifish. I provide evidence that combined exposure to hypoxia and wastewater affected hypoxia tolerance, gill structure, and depleted energy stores in the brain. My thesis demonstrates that WWTP effluent can disrupt mechanisms that fish use to cope with chronic hypoxia and impair hypoxia tolerance. These findings contribute to the existing body of work that documents the interactive effects of combined stressors in effluent-dominated ecosystems on the physiology and health of fish.

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Twenty-five sedentary female volunteers, 18-30 years of age, were studied to determine the effects of an endurance running program on leg strength gains from a weight training program. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a weight training group (W), a weight training plus running group (RW), or a control group (C). The subjects trained three days per week, approximately one hour per day, for nine weeks. The RW group ran for 25 min then weight trained for 30 min, whereas the W group weight trained for one hour. Subjects were tested for one-repetition maximum (l-RM) pre-training, at two week intervals during training, and post-training. Thigh girth (midpoint [MG] and 1.18 cm above the patella [AP]) and percent body fat were measured pre- and post-training, only weekly on a calibrated scale. Body weight was measured. Significant improvements in isotonic leg strength of 56% for W and 66% for RW were observed, with no difference between the groups. W and RW also achieved a significantly greater isotonic leg strength than the C group. The experimental groups had a significantly greater posttest AP as compared to the C group. No significant differences were observed over the experimental period in MG, percent body fat and body weight of any of the groups. In conclusion, the running program used in the present study did not interfere with leg strength or girth gains achieved through weight training. These results are in contrast to those reported in other studies which found that aerobic training impaired strength gains. / Master of Science

For years, heart rate (HR) kinetics have been used as an indicator of training status and fatigue. Slowed kinetics indicate poor fitness and/or fatigue. In this study it was determined that HR kinetics can be reliably estimated during modeled, quasi-binary, and dynamic exercise using cross-correlation analysis of HR and external work rate. Heart rate and running speed were cross-correlated yielding a cross-correlation function (CCF) and analyzed for its peak (CCFmax) and time delay (CCFlag). Modeled exercise data where the time constants for HR (τ) increased from 2-120 sec. yielded linear decreases in CCFmax (r2 = 0.9949) and linear increases in CCFlag (r2=0.9996). A strong linear relationship existed between CCFmax and CCFlag (r2=0.9989). Steady-state exercise data produced strong relationships between the calculated τ and CCFmax (r2=0.8736) and CCFlag (r2=0.9061), and CCFmax and CCFlag showed a positive relationship (r2=0.7753). CCFmax between repeated sprint trials (R2=0.9123) and super set trails (R2=0.9227) were very similar. These results suggest good repeatability for both quasi-binary activity and random activity. To assess validity, CCFmax values during the sprint trials were compared to two standard field tests of fitness (Beep and Man U tests). There were strong relationships between CCFmax and distances covered during the Beep (r2=0.7911) and Mann U tests (r2=0.7770). Lastly, the applicability of the CCF method was applied to dynamic exercise, using data collected from competitive soccer matches. For the field players, significant reductions in CCFmax occurred during the first and second periods of the match. There was a significant relationship between the total distance covered during the match and the decline in CCFmax (r=-0.4297, p<0.05). Larger declines in CCFmax during the last 15 min of the match were also seen in the second match of a multiple match week compared to the first match. Tis later finding suggests that CCFmax may be a use tool to evaluate "fatigue" during dynamic exercise. Overall, cross-correlation of HR and running speed appears to be a reliable, valid and applicable approach to evaluate HR kinetics during exercise. As such, it may be beneficial for evaluating player fitness and readiness for competition. / Doctor of Philosophy / Exercise physiologists and sports professionals are continually in search of novel techniques which would assess training effectiveness and performance on the field. However, it is of paramount importance that any field-based data collection method must be noninvasive as to not interfere with the athlete's ability to perform in sport. Currently, heart rate (HR) is the most readily accessible and commonly used variable to estimate cardiovascular response to exercise. Heart rate kinetics have proven to be a powerful indicator of training status as HR responses to changes in exercise intensity are accelerated following exercise training. In this study we were able to determine that HR kinetics can be reliably estimated during modeled, quasi-binary, and dynamic exercise using cross-correlation analysis of HR and external work rate. Heart Rate and running speed were cross-correlated yielding a cross-correlation function (CCF). That function was then analyzed for its peak (CCFmax) and time delay (CCFlag). Modeled exercise data yielded linear decreases in CCFmax and linear increases in CCFlag. Also, CCFmax and CCFlag were correlated to each other. Steady-state exercise data produced the same linear relationships observed for the modeled data for CCFmax and CCFlag. CCFmax between repeated sprint trials were found to be highly reliable which suggest good repeatability for both quasi-binary activity and random activity. CCFmax was also found to be highly valid when comparing sprint values to validated fitness test values. Additionally, good relationships were found between CCFmax derived during fitness tests and distances covered on the fitness tests. As HR kinetics are linked to fitness, these results suggest that CCFmax values are valid. There was a significant relationship between the total distance covered during a full soccer match and the decline in CCFmax in field players that were not seen in the goalkeeper. Lastly, CCFmax declined during the last 15 minutes of the match compared to the start of the match. These results demonstrate CCF derived HR kinetics appear to be reliable and valid metrics for evaluating soccer fitness and "fatigue". This method may prove to be a strong indicator of fitness in other high activity sports as well.

Anaerobic digestion of wastewater sludge has widely been in application for stabilization of sludge. With the increase in hauling cost and many environmental and health concerns regarding land application of biosolids, digestion processes generating minimized sludge with better effluent characteristics is becoming important for many public and wastewater utilities. This study was designed to investigate the performance of anaerobic-aerobic-anaerobic digestion of sludge and compare it to anaerobic-aerobic digestion and single stage mesophilic digestion of sludge. Experiments were carried out in three stages: Single-stage mesophilic anaerobic digestion (MAD) 20d SRT; Sequential Anaerobic/Aerobic digestion (Ana/Aer); and Anaerobic/Aerobic/Anaerobic digestion (An/Aer/An). The Anaerobic/Aerobic/Anaerobic digestion of sludge was studied with two options to determine the best option in terms of effluent characteristics. The two sludge withdrawal options were to withdraw effluent from the anaerobic digester (An/Aer/An – A) or withdraw effluent from the aerobic digester (An/Aer/An – B). Different operational parameters, such as COD removal, VS destruction, biogas production, Nitrogen removal, odor removal and dewatering properties of the resulting biosolids were studied and the results were compared among different processes. From the study, it was found that An/Aer/An – B (wastage from aerobic reactor) provided better effluent characteristics than An/Aer/An – A (wastage from anaerobic reactor), Ana/Aer or conventional MAD. The study also shows that the Anaerobic/Aerobic/Anaerobic (An/Aer/An, with wastage from the aerobic or anaerobic digester) digestion of the sludge can improve the biosolids quality by improving the dewatering capabilities, with lower optimum polymer dose, reduced CST and increased cake solid concentration, and reduce the odor generation from the biosolids. Both An/Aer/Ana – A and An/Aer/An – B gave 70% VS removal, compared to 50% with single MAD and 62% with only Ana/Aer. COD removal of both An/Aer/An – A and An/Aer/An – B was 70%, while it was 50% and 66% for single MAD and Ana/Aer respectively. In the aerobic reactors of Ana/Aer and An/Aer/An - B, nitrification and denitrification with removal of nitrogen was observed. The An/Aer/An – B system had more ammonia and TKN removal (70%) than Ana/Aer (64%). The effluent from each stage was analyzed for dewatering ability, cake solid concentration and odor production potential. Compared with a single Ana/Aer system, the extra anaerobic step in An/Aer/An – A and – B reduced polysaccharides in the effluent. The Ana/Aer system released less protein than the conventional MAD system and the addition of the second anaerobic step - especially with system An/Aer/An – B (discharge from aerobic reactor) - greatly reduced protein, resulting in improved dewaterability and less polymer demand. An/Aer/An (both of the options: A and B) had lower CST than single MAD (both 15d and 20d SRT) and Ana/Aer. Compared to Ana/Aer, a reduction of 52% for An/Aer/An – A and 20% for An/Aer/An – B in polymer dose requirement was observed, indicating improved dewatering characteristics. The An/Aer/An – B has higher biosolid cake concentration than MAD or Ana/Aer. The results showed that An/Aer/An (both options: A and B) biosolid had lower odor generation potential than single MAD (15d and 20d SRT) or Ana/Aer. Of all the stages,the An/Aer/An – A and – B system, generated odor which peaked at shorter time and lasted for shorter duration of time. / Master of Science

The present study used a linear mixed model analytic approach to assess the association between a combined respondent and spousal exercise score and cognitive outcomes of older adult respondents drawn from a nationally representative dataset, The Health and Retirement Study. Informed by the Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition (STAC), the present study sought to understand the role of both an individual and their spouse's aerobic physical activity in an individual's cognitive outcomes and trajectories. Utilizing longitudinal survey data collected across twelve years (N=3,189), the combined exercise status of a married couple was found to be a significant predictor of cognitive outcomes; when an interaction between time and couple exercise status was included in the model, this was also found to be a significant predictor of four specific cognitive outcomes. The highest cognitive benefit was identified among individuals where both they and their partner participated in the recommended amount of aerobic physical activity, suggesting an additive effect. These findings and their implications are discussed further. / Master of Science / The present study explores how the combined exercise behaviors of a married older adult couple may predict the cognitive outcomes of one partner. Data was analyzed across twelve years and included married individuals between the ages of 65 and 95. Findings showed that the combined couple exercise status predicted outcomes in cognitive function of the respondent. Additionally, the interaction between time and the couple exercise status significantly predicted cognitive outcomes. The addition of a spouse's aerobic physical activity was beneficial to the cognitive outcomes of their partner. The cognitive benefit was highest among couples where both partners participated in aerobic physical activity. These findings and their implications are discussed further.

Hormonal and metabolic responses to submaximal exercise were studied in 11 sedentary, overweight women who participated in an 8 week aerobic exercise program (80% VO2 max) while consuming a hypocaloric diet. A maximal and submaximal treadmill exercise test were performed before and after the program. During the submaximal exercise test, a graded portion (mean time 6.4 min) preceded the submaximal phase during which subjects worked at 80% VO2 max until exhaustion (mean time l2 min). Blood was sampled before and after the work via venipuncture. Whole blood was immediately analyzed for lactate accumulation. The remaining blood was centrifuged, separated, and frozen for subsequent serum glucose, cortisol, and insulin measurement. There was a significant increase in oxygen uptake (ml/kg/min), and a decrease in body weight, ( 6.7%), and body fat (14%). Resting heart rate was significantly lower post-training (5.4%), as were exercise RQ (VCO2/VO2) ratios. Pretraining serum glucose and blood lactate significantly increased while nonsignificant decreases were noted in insulin and cortisol as a result of the submaximal exercise bout. The significant increases in glucose and lactate during exercise were blunted after the training program. However, only the post-training response of lactate was significantly different from the pretraining response. The insulin and cortisol response was not significantly different from that during the pretraining exercise test. A correlation was observed between RPE and lactate at the end of exercise both pretraining and post-training. In summary, the combined exercise and weight loss program resulted in exercise being less stressful, both metabolically and subjectively. This improvement enables greater exercise intensity to be performed prior to the significant accumulation of lactate and perception of fatigue which may inspire the sedentary, overweight female to establish and/or continue a regular exercise program. / Master of Science