Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1976. / Also available via the Internet.

Research has shown conflicting results involving interference of strength development with combined resistance and endurance training. Purpose: To examine if endurance training and resistance training performed concurrently would produce different performance and physiological results when compared to each type of training alone. Methods: Forty-five untrained males were recruited and randomly assigned to one of three 12 wk training groups. An endurance training (ET, N=12) group trained by running (2-3 days/week, 20-40 min, 65- 80% HRR), a resistance training (RT, N=13) group performed a resistance training program (2-3 days/week, 3 sets/8 exercises, 6-10 reps, 75-85% 1RM), and a concurrent training (CT, N=16) group performed both the endurance and resistance training programs (5 days/week, even # week 3 endurance/2 resistance workouts, odd # week 3 resistance/2 endurance workouts). All groups were tested for all the following variables prior to and following training: percent body fat, VO2max, isokinetic-maximal torque and avg. power at two speeds, 1RM leg press, 1 RM bench press, vertical jump, lower body power (as calculated by the Lewis formula) and 40-yard dash time. Results: Percent body fat was significantly (p≤.05) decreased in both the ET and CT groups. Only the ET group significantly improved VO2max (+8.24%). Minimal changes were found for any of the isokinetic measurements. The ET, RT, and CT groups demonstrated significant improvements in leg press (20.4, 40.8, and 39.4%) and bench press (7.5, 30.5 and 21.2%) 1 RM. RT and CT 1 RM improvements were similar and significantly greater than the ET group. Only the RT group significantly increased power. No group showed a significant change in vertical jump or 40-yard dash time. Conclusions: Findings indicate that endurance training does not interfere with strength development, but resistance training appears to hinder development of maximal aerobic capacity.

The high incidence of long bone fractures and appreciable rate of delayed and non-union (5-10%) necessitates the development of non-invasive tools to monitor healing progression. The objective of this study was to develop a novel µCT-based measure of three-dimensional bone connectivity and to compare its ability to assess fracture callus mechanical stability to previously described measures. Bone connectivity parameters local to the failure surface were found to significantly correlate with mechanical stability, and proved superior to previously developed measures of torsional rigidity. Visualization of the failure surfaces demonstrated a consistent failure pattern indicative of the applied torsional loading, however the locations of the failure surfaces showed varying levels of fracture callus involvement. The results of this proof of concept work indicate the potential utility of bone connectivity analysis in non-invasive assessment of fracture callus stability.

The high incidence of long bone fractures and appreciable rate of delayed and non-union (5-10%) necessitates the development of non-invasive tools to monitor healing progression. The objective of this study was to develop a novel µCT-based measure of three-dimensional bone connectivity and to compare its ability to assess fracture callus mechanical stability to previously described measures. Bone connectivity parameters local to the failure surface were found to significantly correlate with mechanical stability, and proved superior to previously developed measures of torsional rigidity. Visualization of the failure surfaces demonstrated a consistent failure pattern indicative of the applied torsional loading, however the locations of the failure surfaces showed varying levels of fracture callus involvement. The results of this proof of concept work indicate the potential utility of bone connectivity analysis in non-invasive assessment of fracture callus stability.

Free weights are generally preferred over machines by practitioners of strength training because they involve incorporation of greater muscle mass because of the greater stabilization that is required. Using free weights may therefore allow one to gain more muscle mass and strength with chronic training; however, this has not been thoroughly addressed. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of training with free weights or machines on muscle mass, testosterone and cortisol concentrations, and strength. Fifteen males and twenty-one females aged 22 ± 3 y with previous weight training experience trained using only free weights or only machines for eight weeks. Hormone concentrations were assessed via saliva samples pre and post workout at the beginning, mid-way, and end of the study. Muscle thickness, lean tissue mass, and strength were measured at the beginning and the end of the study. Elbow flexor thickness increased significantly by 3.9% and a 5.1% in the free weight group and machine group, respectively (p<0.01), with no difference between groups. Knee extensor thickness increased significantly by 4.6% and a 4.9% in the free weight group and machine group, respectively (p<0.01), with no difference between groups. No significant changes occurred in the lean tissue mass during the eight week training period. The group x time interaction for machine bench press strength was close to significance (p=0.054) with the machine training group experiencing a greater increase in strength compared to the free weight training group (13.9% vs. 8.6%). Free weight bench press, free weight squat, and Smith machine squat strength increased significantly in both groups (11-19%; p<0.01) with no difference between groups. The males in the free-weight group had a 21.7% increase in testosterone from before to after acute training sessions (p<0.01); however, the acute increase in testosterone to cortisol ratio in males training with free weights did not differ from males training on machines. Results from this study indicate that training with free weights or machines result in similar increases in muscle mass and strength, and testosterone to cortisol ratio. Males training with free weights may benefit from a greater acute increase in testosterone levels during individual training sessions.

Free weights are generally preferred over machines by practitioners of strength training because they involve incorporation of greater muscle mass because of the greater stabilization that is required. Using free weights may therefore allow one to gain more muscle mass and strength with chronic training; however, this has not been thoroughly addressed. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of training with free weights or machines on muscle mass, testosterone and cortisol concentrations, and strength. Fifteen males and twenty-one females aged 22 ± 3 y with previous weight training experience trained using only free weights or only machines for eight weeks. Hormone concentrations were assessed via saliva samples pre and post workout at the beginning, mid-way, and end of the study. Muscle thickness, lean tissue mass, and strength were measured at the beginning and the end of the study. Elbow flexor thickness increased significantly by 3.9% and a 5.1% in the free weight group and machine group, respectively (p<0.01), with no difference between groups. Knee extensor thickness increased significantly by 4.6% and a 4.9% in the free weight group and machine group, respectively (p<0.01), with no difference between groups. No significant changes occurred in the lean tissue mass during the eight week training period. The group x time interaction for machine bench press strength was close to significance (p=0.054) with the machine training group experiencing a greater increase in strength compared to the free weight training group (13.9% vs. 8.6%). Free weight bench press, free weight squat, and Smith machine squat strength increased significantly in both groups (11-19%; p<0.01) with no difference between groups. The males in the free-weight group had a 21.7% increase in testosterone from before to after acute training sessions (p<0.01); however, the acute increase in testosterone to cortisol ratio in males training with free weights did not differ from males training on machines. Results from this study indicate that training with free weights or machines result in similar increases in muscle mass and strength, and testosterone to cortisol ratio. Males training with free weights may benefit from a greater acute increase in testosterone levels during individual training sessions.

No description available.

The effect of ionic strength (I), pCO2, and temperature on the reaction kinetics of calcite was investigated in magnesium-free, phosphate-free, low calcium (mCa^2 ≈ 0.01 – 0.02 molal) simple KCl and NaCl solutions from both undersaturated and oversaturated conditions. First order kinetics were found sufficient to describe the dissolution rate data. Dissolution rates decreased with increasing I and were faster in KCl than NaCl solutions at the same I indicating that Na^ interacts more strongly with the calcite surface than K^ or that water is less available in NaCl solutions. Rates increased with increasing pCO2 and temperature, and their influence diminished at high I. Arrhenius plots yielded a relatively high activation energy (Ea ≈ 20 ± 2 kJ mol-1) which indicated that dissolution was dominated by surface controlled processes. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the mole fraction of "free" solvent plays a significant role in the dissolution kinetics of calcite with a minimum value of ~45-50 percent required for dissolution to proceed in undersaturated solutions at 25-55 degrees C and pCO2 = 0.1 – 1 atm. Precipitation rates were modeled using the general and Davies and Jones rate equations yielding similar results. Reaction orders were found to typically range between 0.8 and 2.5 for both rate equations regardless of electrolyte. For both solutions, rate constants were found to range between 100.8 and 101.7 mmole m-2 hr-1 (general rate equation) and 101.5 and 102.2 mmole m-2 hr-1 (Davies and Jones rate equation). Under the experimental conditions employed and the resultant precision (~20-25 percent), I and pCO2 do not have a significant influence on the precipitation rate of calcite. Precipitation rates increased with temperature although Arrhenius plots yield a broad range of activation energies (Ea ≈ 15 – 28 kJ mol-1, R2 = 0.72). The relatively low calculated activation energies coupled with the precision of the results suggest the possibility of surface nucleation in the present results. Overall, these findings may be useful in understanding and predicting the interaction and reactivity of the host carbonate minerals in subsurface reservoirs to the injection of CO2 although much work needs to be completed at elevated temperatures and pressures.

ABSTRACT Hydrophobic organic pollutants (HOPs) are in general characterized by high toxicity, long environmental half-life and high bio-accumulation factors. Due to their hydrophobicity, HOPs tend to sorb onto particulates in natural aquatic environment and their degradation pathways and rates are altered with the change of the reaction media and the settlement of these particles. The influence of the dissolved organic matters (DOMs), termed as the third phase, on the sorption partition coefficient is observed because of their interactions with HOPs. This binding (between DOM and HOP) increases apparent solubility and mobility of the HOP and the sorption coefficient of HOP in aquatic system is reduced. On the purpose of obtaining data closer to the real world, many aquatic factors, such as the concentration and types of DOM, pH value and ionic strength, are studied intensively recently. Nevertheless, it is difficult to clarify the influence of ionic strength because the relationship between binding constant of DOM-HOP and ionic strength is ambiguous in the literature. As such, by applying fluorescence quenching method, we investigate the influence of ionic strength on the partition coefficient (Kdom) of PAHs (phenanthrene¡Bpyrene)-humic acid (HA) system. Results show that the interaction of HA and cations is the primary factor in the variations of the partition coefficient. It is believed that, as cations reacting with specific binding sites on HA, the molecules' configuration of HA is changed and the binding mechanism of PAHs and HA is altered. A "four-stage variation model" is then proposed to explain the relationship between the ionic strength and partition coefficient. Therefore, a non-constant trend of ionic strength effect is resulted and is used to explain the controversial findings in the literature. Furthermore, Mg++ is found to cause stronger effect than K+ owing to higher charge density. The introduction of Br- would complicate the fluorescence quenching mechanism of phenanthrene-HA system because it's a fluorescence quencher. However, effects of anions on the variation of Kdom are not as significant as cations in our system. The effects of ionic strength on the variation of Kdom for four humic acids are LHA¡ÖPHA¡]Peat humic acid¡^¡ÖSHHA¡]Summit Hill humic acid¡^¡ÖSRHA. Results from different humic acids indicate that the Suwannee River humic acid (SRHA) is not as sensitive as Leonardite humic acid (LHA) on the ionic strength effect because of lower hydrophobicity. The influence of ionic strength on the variation of Kdom for pyrene-HA system is also amplified because of pyrene's higher hydrophobicity compared with phenanthrene.

Research has shown conflicting results involving interference of strength development with combined resistance and endurance training. Purpose: To examine if endurance training and resistance training performed concurrently would produce different performance and physiological results when compared to each type of training alone. Methods: Forty-five untrained males were recruited and randomly assigned to one of three 12 wk training groups. An endurance training (ET, N=12) group trained by running (2-3 days/week, 20-40 min, 65- 80% HRR), a resistance training (RT, N=13) group performed a resistance training program (2-3 days/week, 3 sets/8 exercises, 6-10 reps, 75-85% 1RM), and a concurrent training (CT, N=16) group performed both the endurance and resistance training programs (5 days/week, even # week 3 endurance/2 resistance workouts, odd # week 3 resistance/2 endurance workouts). All groups were tested for all the following variables prior to and following training: percent body fat, VO2max, isokinetic-maximal torque and avg. power at two speeds, 1RM leg press, 1 RM bench press, vertical jump, lower body power (as calculated by the Lewis formula) and 40-yard dash time. Results: Percent body fat was significantly (p&#8804;.05) decreased in both the ET and CT groups. Only the ET group significantly improved VO2max (+8.24%). Minimal changes were found for any of the isokinetic measurements. The ET, RT, and CT groups demonstrated significant improvements in leg press (20.4, 40.8, and 39.4%) and bench press (7.5, 30.5 and 21.2%) 1 RM. RT and CT 1 RM improvements were similar and significantly greater than the ET group. Only the RT group significantly increased power. No group showed a significant change in vertical jump or 40-yard dash time. Conclusions: Findings indicate that endurance training does not interfere with strength development, but resistance training appears to hinder development of maximal aerobic capacity.