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Background: In most countries of the Western world there have been positive reductions in incidence of cardiovascular diseases in the past decades, among both men and women, but still mortality due to these disease groups are very high. Many studies about myocardial infarction have shown that depression after an event is related to poor medical outcomes from the disease. This means prolonged disability events of angina, arrhythmias, re-hospitalization and increased rate of mortality. In post myocardial infarction patients, depression is a major cause of both short and long term mortality. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the scientific literature by a systematic review in order to find evidence based knowledge about the benefit of physical activity as a tool to reduce depression in patients with coronary artery event.Method: Three databases were searched (Pubmed, CINHAL, Cochrane) systematically and all articles that met inclusion criteria were examined and graded according to the criteria “Grading quality of evidence and strength of recommendations” by Atkins. A special protocol was designed further from AMSTAR by Beverley, for systematic review with and without the meta-analysis study. Results: It was evident that scientific reports fitting to the area was scarce showing that the area of interest was fairly new. Finally ten studies were included in this study, one meta-analysis, five randomized controlled trail and four clinical trials. The results showed low to moderate evidence for the use of high, moderate and low level of exercise as a tool to reduce depression in post coronary artery event patients.Conclusion: The following study concluded that, exercise shows positive effects to reduce the level of depression among coronary artery event patients.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder girdle pain is a common disabling complaint with a high lifetime prevalence. Interventions aimed at decreasing shoulder pain without stressing shoulder girdle structures have the potential to improve participation in multimodal shoulder rehabilitation programs. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the acute effects of moderate intensity lower extremity exercise on mechanically induced shoulder pain in individuals without shoulder injury. It was hypothesized that participants would exhibit less shoulder pain, as indicated by increased pain thresholds, following lower extremity exercise. STUDY DESIGN: Repeated measures study. METHODS: Thirty (30) healthy participants were recruited to participate in this study. Pain pressure algometry was used to mechanically induce shoulder pain over the infraspinatus muscle belly. This was performed on the dominant shoulder before and immediately after performing 10 minutes of moderate intensity lower extremity exercise using a recumbent exercise machine. Heart rate and rate of perceived exertion were measured following exercise. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare pain pressure threshold scores between the baseline and post-exercise time points. Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05 . Effect size (ES) was calculated using Glass's Δ. RESULTS: Moderate intensity lower extremity aerobic exercise led to significantly (F = 8.471, p = 0.003) decreased evoked shoulder pain in healthy adults with moderate effect sizes (0.30-0.43). CONCLUSIONS: Lower extremity aerobic exercise significantly decreased pain of the infraspinatus in this sample of young healthy participants. Utilization of lower extremity exercise may be of benefit for younger patients to decreased acute shoulder pain. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b: individual cohort study.

The objective of this study was to utilize an alternating anaerobic/aerobic sequence to biologically transform perchloroethylene to non-hazardous end products such as ethylene, CO2 and H2 using a single microbial consortia in a methanogenic and/or a homoacetogenic environment followed by a aerobic methanotrophic environment. Reductive dechlorination of PCE and TCE to cDCE and VC in an anaerobic environment is typically carried out by methanogens, sulfidogens, or homoacetogens but often (e.g. in-situ) leads to an accumulation of daughter compounds (cDCE, VC) which are more toxic than their parent compounds (PCE, TCE). Furthermore, PCE is resistant to degradation in aerobic environments while VC and cDCE are readily oxidized co-metabolically by aerobic methanotrophic bacteria, among others. In order to achieve complete mineralization of chlorinated solvents using a biotic system, an anaerobic/aerobic treatment strategy was investigated. This strategy has been accomplished successfully at a lab scale with anaerobic and aerobic reactors in series, and in-situ anaerobic zones with downgradient aerobic zones have been proposed in the field. In contrast, the focus of this research was to expose single mixed microbial consortia to sequential anaerobic/aerobic treatments in order to determine if reductive dechlorination could be sustained following aerobic phases of treatment. If possible this would imply that the anaerobic and aerobic zones (in-situ) or reactors (ex-situ) would not necessarily have to be spatially separated. In pure or dilute cultures where soil material is not present strict anaerobes would typically not resume metabolic activity if exposed to frequent aerobic phases of treatment. However in aquifer material or reactors with large floc/granules it might be possible due to the protection of anaerobic micro-environments as a result of diffusion limitations. Microcosms contained in sealed 120-mL serum bottles were used to generate experimental data including autoclaved abiotic controls with mercuric chloride. Inocula for these microcosms come from a several sources, including anaerobic digester sludge, soils, and contaminated aquifers. Once an experimental microcosm showed signs of reductive dechlorination, an aerobic treatment was implemented. The anaerobic phase of the microcosm was interrupted with a short duration aerobic phase. Headspace air or hydrogen peroxide addition was used to supply oxygen. Analytical data from the experiments indicated that anaerobic reductive dechlorination was readily accomplished during anaerobic phase experiments as PCE was sequentially dechlorinated to TCE and then to cDCE as reported in previous research reported by others in the literature. Additionally, a few mixed consortia microcosms showed evidence of further reductive dechlorination to VC and ethylene. During the sequential environment experiments, analytical data also indicated that reductive dechlorination also resumed after an aerobic sequence utilizing hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizer in the microcosm. No conclusive evidence was observed to indicate that aerobic degradation of cDCE during any of the aerobic phase treatments. This was probably due to the inocula not containing methanotrophs.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of voice production and perception of dyspnea in aerobic instructors during simultaneous tasks of exercise and speech production. The study aimed to document changes that occur during four conditions: 1) voice production without exercise and no use of amplification; 2) voice production without exercise and the use of amplification; 3) voice production during exercise without the use of amplification; 4) voice production during exercise with the use of amplification. Participants included ten aerobic instructors (two male and eight female). The dependent variables included vocal intensity, average fundamental frequency (F0), noise-to-harmonic ratio (NHR), jitter percent (jitt %), shimmer percent (shim %), and participants' self-perception of dyspnea. The results indicated that speech alone, whether it was with or without amplification, had no effect on the sensation of dyspnea. However, when combining speech with exercise, the speech task became increasingly difficult, even more so without the use of amplification. Exercise was observed to inhibit vocal loudness levels as vocal intensity measures were lowest in the conditions with exercise with the use of amplification. Increases in F0 occurred in conditions involving exercise without the use of amplification. Moreover, four participants in various conditions exhibited frequencies that diverged from their gender's normal range. Participants' NHR increased during periods of exercise, however no participants were found to have NHR measures outside the normal range. Four participants were found to have moderate laryngeal pathology that was hemorrhagic in nature. Findings suggest that traditional treatment protocols may need to be modified beyond hygienic approaches in order to address both the respiratory and laryngeal work-loads that are encountered in this population and others involving similar occupational tasks.

ABSTRACT The Effects of a Novel Exercise Training Suit on Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Body Composition and Leg Strength Trevor Michael Curry The physiological responses to physical activity or exercise using external load carriage systems (LCS) in the form of weighted personal protective equipment, backpacks, or vests have biomechanical and human performance implications. It remains unclear whether a new unique LCS in the form of a weighted (5.45 kg) full-bodied exercise suit can induce greater improvements in performance and body composition. Twenty-one healthy males (20±3 years; 24.9±3.6 body mass index (BMI); 25.1±6.4% total percentage body fat ( % fat); 120.1±17.3 kg lean mass; 146.2±35.4 kg leg press 1-repetition max; 1.25±0.14 g·cm-2 bone mineral density; 49.5±8.53 mLO2·kg-1·min-1 maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max)) were matched for VO2max and physical characteristics before being randomly allocated into an aerobic exercise intervention with or without the exercise suit using a treadmill at the Cal Poly Recreation Center. Participants jogged at 60%-70% of their maximum heart rate for 30 min three times a week on nonconsecutive days for six weeks. Weight was recorded before and after each session while heart rates, blood pressures, and tympanic membrane temperatures were recorded incrementally during each session. Thereafter, VO2max and the same physical characteristics were measured and used to analyze the changes before and after the 6-week program. The results indicate that there was no difference for the change in any of the variables measured during and between the exercise intervention. Future studies examining the effect of the exercise suit on these variables should strongly consider larger sample sizes and other subpopulations to gain the statistical power to measure the effects of the exercise suit.

Wastewater from the manufacture of propellants typically contains 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), a suspected animal carcinogen. Previous studies have indicated that DNT is aerobically biodegradable. However, inconsistent removal of DNT during aerobic treatment has been observed at a munitions wastewater treatment plant, necessitating the use of activated carbon pre-treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutrient and cosubstrate amendments on the rate and extent of DNT removal. Addition of ethanol (100-500 mg/l) and phosphate (0.8-3.3 mg/l) significantly accelerated the rate of aerobic DNT (0.3-5.6 mg/l) biodegradation. Addition of phosphate alone also increased the rate of DNT degradation, but to a lesser degree. The presence of ethyl ether, another substrate commonly found in munitions plant wastewater, had comparatively little effect on the rate of DNT removal. Interruptions in the DNT manufacturing process can result in DNT being absent from the munitions plant wastewater for extended periods. The effect of such interruptions was evaluated in semi-continuously operated reactors, fed daily with phosphate-amended wastewater, at a hydraulic residence time of 3 days. DNT removal resumed without a lag even after it was absent from the feed for periods up to 15 days. During aerobic biodegradation of DNT, reduction to 4-amino-2-nitrotoluene and 2-amino-4-nitrotoluene was consistently observed, with reduction at the para position predominating. The highest level of aminonitrotoluene formation was 23% of the total DNT degraded. Aminonitrotoluene isomers were consumed shortly after they formed in the semi-continuously operated reactors, confirming the potential for degradation of these metabolites. Although the aminonitrotoluene isomers are not currently regulated, their presence in treated munitions wastewater is a concern due to possible toxicity. / Master of Science

Background: The proportion of elderly in the population is increasing globally. Aerobic capacity (AC) and muscle strength (MS) are important factors for health and quality of life. AC as well as MS decrease with higher age. Increased knowledge about how longitudinal changes in AC and MS covaries could lead to more accurate assessments and exercise recommendations depending on age and fitness level.  Objective: The overall aim was to examine changes in MS and AC from 34 to 63 years of age and if there was an association between the two variables. Specific research questions: (Q1) Is the Two-hand lift (THL) a valid measuring method of knee extensor strength compared to isokinetic knee extension in Biodex®? (Q2) Is there a correlation between VO2max and knee extensor strength on a cross-sectional level at the ages of 63, 52 and 34? (Q3) Is there a correlation between longitudinal changes in knee extensor strength and VO2max from 34 to 63 years of age? (Q4) Is the longitudinal change in physical capacity between 34 and 63 years of age the same in terms of MS and AC?  Methods: Data from a Swedish longitudinal, prospective cohort-study (SPAF) with objective measures of physical capacity from the same sample of women and men since 1974 was used for statistical analysis. A linear regression model was conducted to investigate construct validity of the THL. Knee extension strength (Nm) in Biodex® was set as the dependent variable and kilogram force (kp) in the THL, Jamar® Hand Grip Strength (kg), bodyweight (kg), height (cm) were set as independent variables with sex and exerciser yes/no as factors. A multiple linear regression model was used to explore correlation between MS and AC on a cross-sectional level. VO2max (L/min) estimated according to Ekblom-Bak’s ergometer cycle test was defined as the dependent variable at age 63 and Åstrand’s test at age 34 and 52. MS (kp) in the THL-test, height (cm) and bodyweight (kg) were defined as independent variables. To explore correlation between change in AC and change in MS from 34 to 63 years of age, data from Åstrand’s ergometer cycle test and the THL was used. Differences between repeated measures of VO2max (L/min), bodyweight (kg) and MS (kp) were calculated as quotients that could be analysed with multiple linear regression. A dependent t-test was executed to find out if there was any statistical difference between change in VO2max (L/min) and change in MS (kp) expressed as quotients between 63 and 34 years of age. Results: (Q1)THL showed to be a significant predictor for knee-extensor strength in the Biodex® (R = 0.78, p <.001). (Q2) For the women (n = 67) there was a positive correlation between MS and VO2max (p <.05) at 63 years of age. For the men (n = 74) the correlation was also significant (p <.05) but inversed. At the age of 52 there was a positive correlation (p <.05) for women but not significant for men, and at the age of 34 there was no significant correlation for neither women nor men. (Q3) Change in MS and change in AC did not correlate from 34 to 63 years of age, but from 34 to 52 years of age there was a significant correlation (p <.05). This applied for both women (n = 42) and men (n = 48). (Q4) For the women there was no significant difference between change in MS and change in AC. The average decrease in MS was 7,2% and 15,7% in AC. For the men there was a significant difference between decrease in MS and decrease in AC (p <0.001). The average decrease in MS was 4.5% and 26% in AC. The results were partly dependent on an unexplainable increase in performance on the THL from 52 to 63 years of age that could be due to a systematic measuring error.  Conclusion: The overall results indicate that there is an association between knee extensor muscle strength and VO2max that especially applies to individuals with low physical fitness. Further research with more reliable measuring methods of knee extensor strength is needed to better understand the relationship between muscle strength and aerobic capacity in the ageing population. / Bakgrund: Andelen äldre i befolkningen ökar globalt. Aerob kapacitet (AK) och muskelstyrka (MS) är viktiga faktorer för hälsa och livskvalitet. Både AK och MS minskar med ökad ålder. Ökad kunskap om hur longitudinella förändringar i AK och MS samvarierar skulle kunna leda till mer träffsäkra bedömningar och träningsrekommendationer beroende på ålder och träningsnivå. Syfte: Det övergripande syftet var att undersöka förändring av MS och AK från 34 till 63 års ålder och om det fanns en association mellan de båda variablerna. Specifika frågeställningar: (Q1) Är Tvåhandslyftet (THL) en valid mätmetod för styrka i knäextensor-muskulaturen jämfört med isokinetisk knäextension i Biodex®? (Q2) Finns det en korrelation mellan VO2max och styrka i knäextensor-muskulaturen på tvärsnittlig nivå i åldrarna 63, 52 and 34? (Q3) Finns det en korrelation mellan longitudinella förändringar i knäextensions-muskelstyrka och VO2max från 34 till 63 års ålder? (Q4) Är den longitudinella förändringen av fysisk kapacitet mellan 34 och 63 års ålder densamma i termer av MS och AK? Metod: Data från en svensk longitudinell, prospektiv kohortstudie (SPAF) som samlat objektiva mått på fysisk kapacitet och hälsa från samma urval av kvinnor och män sedan 1974 användes för statistisk analys. Multipel linjär regression användes för att undersöka begreppsvaliditeten avseende THL. Knäextensor-styrka (Nm) i Biodex® definierades som den beroende variabeln och kilogram kraft (kp) i THL, Jamar® handgreppstyrka (kg), kroppsvikt (kg), längd (cm) definierades som oberoende variabler, samt kön och Motionerar ja/nej som faktorer. En multipel linjär regressionsmodell användes för att undersöka korrelation mellan MS och AK vid 63 års ålder. VO2max (l/min) beräknat enligt Ekblom- Baks ergometercykeltest definierades som den beroende variabeln. MS (kp) i Tvåhandslyft- testet, längd (cm) och kroppsvikt (kg) definierades som oberoende variabler. För att undersöka korrelation mellan förändring av AK och förändring av MS från 34 till 63 års ålder användes data från Åstrands ergometercykeltest och THL. Skillnaden mellan upprepade mätningar av VO2max (l/min), kroppsvikt (kg) och muskelstyrka (kp) beräknades till kvoter som kunde analyseras med multipel linjär regression. Ett parat t-test användes för att ta reda på om det var någon statistisk skillnad mellan förändring av VO2max (l/min) och förändring av muskelstyrka (kp) uttryckt som kvoter mellan 63 och 34 års ålder. Resultat: (Q1) THL visade sig vara en statistiskt significant prediktor för knäextensionsstyrka i Biodex® (R = 0.78, p <.001). (Q2) För kvinnorna (n = 67) var det en positiv korrelation mellan muskelstyrka och VO2max (p <.05) vid 63 års ålder. För männen (n = 74) var korrelationen också signifikant (p <.05) men hade en negativ riktning. (Q3) Förändring av muskelstyrka och förändring av VO2max korrelerade inte från 34 till 63 års ålder, men däremot från 34 till 52 års ålder (p <0.05). Detta gällde både kvinnor (n = 42) och män (n = 48). (Q4) För kvinnorna var det ingen signifikant skillnad mellan förändring av muskelstyrka och förändring av VO2max. Den genomsnittliga minskningen i muskelstyrka var 7,2% respektive 15,7% i VO2max. För männen var det en significant skillnad i minskning mellan muskelstyrka och VO2max (p <0.001). Den genomsnittliga minskningen i MS var 4.5% respektive 26% för VO2max. Resultaten berodde delvis på en oförklarlig ökning av prestation i Tvåhandslyft-testet från 52 till 63 års ålder som kan bero på ett systematiskt mätfel. Slutsats: Sammantaget pekar resultaten mot att det finns en association mellan styrka i knäextensor-muskulaturen och VO2max som särskilt gäller individer med låg fysiskkapacitet. Mer forskning med mer reliabla mätmetoder behövs för att bättre förstå sambandet mellan MS och AK i en åldrande population.

Eutrophication is an increasing global concern as human effluent saturates lakes with an over abundance of nutrients. Phosphorus, generally being the limiting nutrient, is often the most impactful, allowing cyanobacteria populations to grow out of control leading to harmful blooms that can produce cyanotoxins, anoxic lake conditions, and mass fish kills. Utah Lake, a shallow highly eutrophic fresh water lake located in central Utah Valley, has experienced these harmful algal blooms for the last several years. The internal phosphorus cycle is a significant driver in Utah Lake's eutrophication, as the sediments act as both a sink and a source for phosphorus. Most of the phosphorus originates from external sources, gets captured by the sediment, and then through several physiochemical and biological process, gets released back into the surface water as a self sustaining eutrophication system. To determine the effects of the different physiochemical processes that drive the internal phosphorus system, we incubated 72 total sediment cores taken from two locations, chosen to best represent the lake's chemical and spatial variability, under aerobic, anaerobic, pH=9.5 and pH=7 conditions with various P concentrations (ambient, 0.5X, 2X, 4X) taking water samples at 0, 12, 24, and 72 hours. Dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), and other major ions were measured for each sample. The highest P sediment release occurred under aerobic conditions, while the highest P sediment uptake occurred under anaerobic conditions. While pH did appear to have a mild effect on P flux, our study showed the lake has a remarkably stable bicarbonate buffer system making it unlikely that pH would contribute significantly under natural settings. Under all conditions the 2X and 4X cores experienced the highest P uptake, but final elevated P concentrations were still higher than initial ambient concentrations, indicating a probable delayed recovery time after external reductions occur.

High altitude is one of the most extreme environments experienced by terrestrial mammals due to both low ambient temperatures and oxygen availability. Deer mice native to high altitude have a greater thermogenic capacity in hypoxia compared to a lowland population, likely as a consequence of both genetic adaptations and phenotypic plasticity. To understand the adaptive variation in phenotypic plasticity, F1 generation lab-reared mice were acclimated to chronic warm-hypoxia, cold-normoxia, and cold-hypoxia. Acclimation led to equal increases in thermogenic capacity in hypoxia for all stressors in high altitude deer mice. Low altitude mice also increased their thermogenic capacity after acclimation, with a distinct increase after acclimation to cold-hypoxia. The thermogenic capabilities of the high and low altitude mice tested in hypoxia were equal, suggesting that both populations of mice had reached a “metabolic ceiling”. Basal metabolic rate increased after acclimation to cold and cold-hypoxia. Nonshivering thermogenesis was not affected by acclimation or altitude ancestry. Shivering thermogenesis contributed 70 to 80 % of total heat produced during VO2summit across all acclimations, and in both populations. VO2summit in hypoxia was supported by lipids in deer mice even though carbohydrates would provide an oxygen saving advantage. Also, rates of lipid oxidation increased after acclimation to cold, and cold combined with hypoxia in the high altitude population. Together these findings suggest that the increased thermogenic capacity of the high altitude wild mice is based both on differences in phenotypic plasticity, and on differences in genotype from the low altitude mice. Adult phenotypic plasticity is pivotal in the thermogenic capabilities of both populations, and it is likely that developmental plasticity also plays an important role. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)