To develop reference standards for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) from directly measured maximum oxygen consumption using the Ball State University Adult Physical Fitness Program (APFP) cohort. The APFP cohort is an open cohort of self-referred participants since 1971. From 3,212 individual participants, 2,642 male and 1,741 female (18-79 years) test files remained after exclusion criteria was met. Gender-specific age, physical activity (PA), body mass index (BMI), and smoking status CRF reference standards were developed. Men had greater mean CRF (35%) than women and consistently had greater mean CRF according to age, PA, BMI, and smoking status (p<.05). CRF was approximately 10% lower across each decade of age, and was greater with increasing PA compared to the sedentary group. Greater classes of BMI had lower CRF, and CRF was 5% greater in non-smokers compared to current smokers. A pooled CRF registry is recommended for a larger and more diverse cohort. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

This thesis is concerned with the role of 'central command' in cardiorespiratory control during exercise and the peripheral autonomic modulation of cardiac excitability. Chapter One reviews the background to the work in the thesis. The cardiorespiratory and autonomic changes occurring during exercise and the ways in which they are brought about are discussed. This is followed by a review of some pathological changes in autonomic activity and the ways in which they might be arrhythmogenic. Chapter Two details the experimental techniques used in the thesis and discusses their theoretical background. Chapter Three studies the cardiorespiratory responses to imagination of exercise under hypnosis. This results in hyperventilation, hypocapnia and an increase in heart rate. In contrast, no cardiorespiratory changes are seen when the same protocol is repeated in the awake state. The response to imagined exercise under hypnosis is not affected by maintaining isocapnia. A powerful drive to breathe arising from higher centres, that is independent of peripheral muscular feedback, is elicited when 'exercise' is imagined under hypnosis. Chapter Four investigates the neural correlates of imagined exercise under hypnosis using positron emission tomography to see if they are the same as those classically implicated in 'central command' during exercise. Activation of 'motor' areas occurs, including the supplementary motor area, primary motor cortex for breathing, premotor area, thalamus, basal ganglia and cerebellum. The insular cortex, right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and posterior parietal cortices are also activated. These activations are similar to those previously reported during actual exercise, but occur in the absence of peripheral feedback that accompanies actual exercise and may therefore reflect 'central command'. Chapter Five studies the responses to altered perception of work rate during actual exercise using hypnotic suggestions. If exercising hypnotised subjects are told that the work rate has increased (when it hasn't), they hyperventilate, become hypocapnic and heart rate increases, suggesting a partial uncoupling of 'central command' from peripheral feedback. Chapter Six investigates the cardiovascular effects of electrical stimulation of the thalamus and midbrain in awake man to determine the role of subcortical areas in cardiovascular control. High-frequency stimulation of the thalamus, subthalamic nucleus and substantia nigra results in increases in heart rate and blood pressure, whereas stimulation of the globus pallidus has no effect. In patients with implanted stimulating electrodes, chronic high-frequency electrical stimulation does not affect baroreflex sensitivity, heart rate variability or blood pressure variability. Chapter Seven characterises the cardiac electrophysiological consequences of sympathetic imbalance using multi-electrode array mapping techniques in the pig heart in vivo. A novel potential arrythmogenic mechanism of noradrenaline is also investigated in two in vitro preparations. Chapter Eight presents a brief summary of the findings in the thesis and discusses future research directions.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Australia, 2003.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Glasgow, 2008. / PhD. theses submitted to the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Glasgow. Edited version of thesis available, uncleared 3rd party copyright material removed. Includes bibliographical references. Print version also available.

Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005.

Objectives: To describe learning outcomes of undergraduate nursing students following an online basic life support course (BLS). Methods: An online BLS course was developed and administered to 94 nursing students. Pre- and post-tests were used to assess theoretical learning. Checklist simulations and feedback devices were used to assess the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills of the 62 students who completed the course. Results: A paired t-test revealed a significant increase in learning [pre-test (6.4 +/- 1.61), post-test (9.3 +/- 0.82), p < 0.001]. The increase in the average grade after taking the online course was significant (p < 0.001). No learning differences (p = 0.475) had been observed between 1st and 2nd year (9.20 +/- 1.60), and between 3rd and 4th year (9.67 +/- 0.61) students. A CPR simulation was performed after completing the course: students checked for a response (90%), exposed the chest (98%), checked for breathing (97%), called emergency services (76%), requested for a defibrillator (92%), checked for a pulse (77%), positioned their hands properly (87%), performed 30 compressions/cycle (95%), performed compressions of at least 5 cm depth (89%), released the chest (90%), applied two breaths (97%), used the automated external defibrillator (97%), and positioned the pads (100%). Conclusions: The online course was an effective method for teaching and learning key BLS skills wherein students were able to accurately apply BLS procedures during the CPR simulation. This short-term online training, which likely improves learning and self-efficacy in BLS providers, can be used for the continuing education of health professionals.

Magister Curationis - MCur / Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a core emergency skill in which all nurses need to be proficient to save the lives of patients. It is important for nurses working in psychiatric hospitals to administer CPR correctly should the need arise. However, they rarely perform CPR as the patients they care for are generally not physical ill, unlike patients admitted in general hospitals. Given the paucity of literature on CPR in psychiatric hospitals, this study aimed at investigating the attitudes towards CPR and the CPR competency of nurses working at a hospital for intellectually disabled people in the Western Cape, South Africa

Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs) are expected to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on athletes experiencing cardiac arrest, regardless of whether the athlete is wearing protective athletic equipment. The goal of this research was to determine if ATCs were able to deliver high-quality CPR over and under football shoulder pads. Forty-one ATCs completed CPR according to 2015 AHA guidelines over and under shoulder pads fitted on a manikin. CPR quality was measured with the Resusci Anne Wireless SkillReporter. Data were analyzed to compare CPR performed over and under the shoulder pads. Overall CPR score, chest compression depth, and ventilation volume were statistically significant when CPR was performed over the equipment. Equipment removal revealed to cause a delay in compression initiation. Although the data from CPR measures suggest the removal of equipment is indicated, the prolonged delay of compressions due to equipment removal should be taken into consideration before establishing best-practice recommendations.

Firefighters are responsible for protecting citizens as well as the infrastructure of cities across the United States. In order to safely protect and perform on-duty tasks, firefighters must be capable of performing physiologically demanding skills. Emerging evidence has led to heightened concern for firefighters’ increased obesity levels and decreased physical activity (PA). Formal exercise and PA research specific to firefighters is lacking. More specifically, there is a lack of literature using accelerometers to objectively measure PA. There is more evidence, however, to demonstrate firefighters have a high prevalence of obesity surpassing the general population. Not only are firefighters overweight and inactive, but also they are not aerobically fit to adequately perform their job-specific tasks. Purpose: To examine the relationship of PA and obesity to cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Methods: Firefighters (n=29) wore an accelerometer for eight consecutive on- and off-duty days. The accelerometer was worn on the right hip and tracked sedentary activity, light physical activity (LPA), moderate physical activity (MPA), vigorous physical activity (VPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MPVA). Additionally, each participant completed a stage-graded exercise test with submaximal square-wave verification bout to determine maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). A stepwise linear regression model was conducted using physical activity intensity, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC) as predictor variables for CRF. Results: According to the World Health Organization BMI categorization, none were normal weight, 20 were overweight, and 9 were obese. Firefighters spent roughly 61% of their waking hours in sedentary activity, 35.4% in LPA, and only 3.6% in MVPA. The two linear regression models were used to investigate whether PA intensity, step count, physical activity rating scale, BMI, or WC were more predictive of VO2max. VPA was predictive of VO2max (F(1,27) = 7.89, R2 = 0.23, p <0.01). Additionally, when BMI and WC were added, only WC was predictive of VO2max (F(1,27) = 11.76, R2 = 0.30, p<0.01). Conclusion: It is imperative fire departments emphasize the importance of cultivating an environment where improved health and wellness is essential for firefighters to adequately perform their physiologically demanding tasks.