Eight well-trained male and female cyclists were studied to determine the effect of sodium and/or water intake on plasma aldosterone during six hours of cycling (55% VO2max) in a warm environment (Tdb = 350C WBGT = 30°C). Each subject randomly completed three trials (water = W; saline = S and no fluid = NF) at one week intervals. Venous blood samples were obtained before dehydration, at 2, 4, 5 and 6 hours during exercise, and also after dehydration. Plasma samples were analyzed for hemoglobin, sodium, potassium, aldosterone and osmolality. Sweat and urine samples were also collected and analyzed for sodium content. Plasma volume based on hemoglobin decreased significantly ( P < 0.01 ) at 15 min in all three trials (Trial W = -7.6%±1.12%; Trial S = -8.6%±1.42% and Trial NF = -6.7%±0.88%) and continued to decrease significantly in Trial NF during exercise ( -10.99% ± 1.3% at the 2th hr; -15.5% ±1.3% at the 4th hr and -16.8%±1.32% at the 5th hr).No significant differences were found betwee trials. Plasma sodium concentration [Na+] decreased over time in Trials W and S and increased in Trial NF due to plasma volume loss. Significant differences in [ Na+ ] were found between Trial NF and Trials W or S. Plasma sodium [Na+ ] adjusted by plasma volume change decreased significantly at 2 hours ( P < 0.01) in the three trials. Average total sodium content of plasma decreased by 125.9 mEq during Trial S, 223.1 mEq during Trial W and 147.1 mEq during Trial NF. Plasma potassium increased significantly (P < 0.01) at 2 hours in all three trials. Plasma osmolality increased significantly (P < 0.01) during prolonged exercise (Trial W = 287.1±2.4 mEq/l; Trial S = 289.4±1.17 mEq/1 and Trial NF = 306±1.6 mEq/1). No significant differences were found between Trials W and S although osmolality was lower in Trial W than in Trial S. A significant difference in osmolality was obtained between Trial NF and Trials W and S (P < 0.01). Plasma aldosterone increased significantly (P < 0.01) during exercise and decreased after exercise. No significant differences existed between Trials W and S although aldosterone levels were lower in Trial S than in Trial W. However, a significant difference was found between Trial NF and Trials W or S. The results of this study suggest that plasma aldosterone has an inverse relationship with plasma volume changes and total sodium concentrations. An increase in plasma potassium and a decrease in plasma sodium during prolonged exercise in a warm environment significantly enhanced plasma aldosterone concentration. The intake of water significantly decreased plasma aldosterone during prolonged exercise in a warm environment, but the intake of sodium had no significant effect in this study. / School of Physical Education

The effect of caffeine consumption on blood pressure has been widely studied. Robertson et al. (J Clin Invest 67: 1111-1117, 1981) cited findings of tolerance to humoral and hemodynamic effects from caffeine within four days when caffeine is consumed with each meal. These findings of tolerance have not been verified. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of caffeine intake pattern on the development of tolerance to hemodynamic effects of caffeine. Fourteen volunteers were randomly assigned to two groups of seven. One group received 250 mg of caffeine in the morning only (MO), the other group received 250 mg of caffeine in the morning, afternoon, and evening (All Day-AD). Subjects underwent a seven day trial during which blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were assessed; morning beverage (250 mg of caffeine) was ingested and BP and HR assessments were obtained every 10 minutes for 50 minutes at rest, and after 10 minutes of cycling at 100 Watts. Afternoon and evening beverages were consumed which contained 250 mg caffeine each or placebo. No significant change in SBP, DBP, or HR from rest to 40 minutes post-caffeine absorption or between caffeine dosing pattern across trial days was found. A main effect was found for SBP post caffeine consumption (MO=5.4 vs. AD= 1.3). Mean values for DBP were stable across days 3-7 (M0=3.14-4.7 mmHg) but decreased from (3.86-.14 mmHg) from days 3 to 7 (AD). SBP revealed a significant interaction during exercise and across trial days. SBP and HR for the morning only group was higher than the all day caffeine consumption group across days. However DBP was lower across days for the morning only vs. the all day intake pattern. Therefore, caffeine dosing pattern does not appear to have an effect on tolerance to the hemodynamic effects of caffeine at rest or during exercise. / School of Physical Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of androstenedione supplementation on testosterone levels in older men. Healthy men (n = 11) between the ages of58 and 69 were divided into two groups: 6 taking 300 mg of androstenedione (mean ± SE, 62.33 ± 2.57) supplement and 5 taking the 300 mg cellulose placebo (mean ± SE, 60.2 ± 1.02) for a period of seven days. Subjects in both groups had been participating in the Ball State University Adult Fitness Program (BSUAFP) for at least one year, incorporating both aerobic and resistance training into their workouts. Testing measures involved the subjects performing two exercises (leg extension and leg curl) while having blood drawn prior to, during, and post-exercise for a period of 20 minutes both pre-and post-supplementation. Specific weights for the subjects were determined with a ten-repetition maximum (10-RM) lift on both exercises. It appeared that the subjects in the androstenedione group were stronger with the exercises than the subjects in the placebo group, but with no significance. Testosterone, estradiol, and androstenedione were analyzed via hormone assay pre-and post-supplementation. The analysis of the testosterone revealed a significant difference pre-(mean ± SE, 4.65 ± .51 ng/ml) to post-(mean ± SE, 6.72 ± .58 ng/ml) supplementation for the androstenedione group. Analysis of the androstenedione revealed a significant difference pre-(mean ± SE, 0.88 ± .20) to post-(mean ± SE, 7.46 ± 1.25) supplementation for the androstenedione group. The estradiol assay revealed no significant differences pre-to post-supplementation for either group. The placebo group did not demonstrate any significant differences pre-to post-supplementation for either testosterone or androstenedione. The results of this study concluded that supplementation with 300 mg. of androstenedione for a period of seven days significantly elevated blood testosterone in older men. / School of Physical Education

The study was designed to determine what type of potentiation,.if any, occurred between caffeine and acetazolamide. Caffeine (75 mg/kg) and/or acetazolamide (200, 1000, or 1500 mg/kg) were administered to pregnant C57BL/6J dams on day 9 of gestation. Fetuses were removed on the eighteenth day of gestation via cesarean section and examined for gross morphological malformations using a Bausch & Lomb SKV1070P dissecting microscope. Treatment with HD-ACZM and HD+CAFF resulted in a reduction of fetal weight. Maternal exposure to MD-ACZM and HD-ACZM caused a statistically significant (P < .001) and dose-dependent increase in the percent of C57BL/6J fetuses with ectrodactyly along with increased severity of the defects displayed (relative to controls). An increase in the number of ectrodactylous fetuses and the severity of defects was also observed in all groups administered caffeine and acetazolamide, reaching statistical significance in the MD+CAFF and HD+CAFF groups (P < .001). Because potentiation of the teratogenic effects of acetazolamide was exhibited only in the MD+CAFF vs. MD-ACZM groups, the type of potentiation occurring between caffeine and acetazolamide can not be determined. / Department of Physiology and Health Science

The influence of caffeine on the metabolic and catecholamine responses to mild exercise in a cold and a warm environment was studied in eight healthy males. The subjects performed 60 minutes of cycling at 50% VO2max in a cold environment (5°C and 70% relative humidity) and a warm environment (28°C and 50% relative humidity) 30 minutes after ingesting caffeine (5mg/kg body weight) or placebo (dextrose). Caffeine ingestion prior to exercise in the warm environment resulted in increased plasma epinephrine, with no effect on plasma norepinephrine. Neither lipid nor carbohydrate metabolism was altered by caffeine in the warm trial. Exercise in the cold environment (placebo) produced increased oxygen consumption and carbohydrate metabolism, decreased lipid metabolism, and no difference in plasma catecholamines compared with the warm-placebo trial. Responses to the combination of caffeine ingestion and the cold environment did not differ from cold-placebo responses in oxygen consumption or respiratory exchange ratio during the cycling bout. However, in the cold-caffeine trial plasma epinephrine was elevated. In addition, fat oxidation, serum free fatty acids, and serum glycerol were elevated in the cold-caffeine condition. Carbohydrate oxidation was depressed, while serum glucose and blood lactate were elevated in this trial. The results of this study indicate that caffeine increases plasma epinephrine; cold increases oxygen consumption and carbohydrate metabolism, while decreasing lipid metabolism; and the combination of caffeine and cold during exercise increases plasma epinephrine and lipid metabolism, but decreases carbohydrate metabolism. / Human Performance Laboratory

The conductor of a large instrumental ensemble is constantly confronted with the task of detecting and correcting rhythm and pitch performance errors in daily rehearsals. The purpose of this investigation was to design a computer-assisted instruction program for error detection skills development and then evaluate this program's effectiveness in training beginning conductors to identify rhythm and pitch errors within 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-voice synthesized music excerpts from the existing band literature. The transfer of error detection skills from synthesized to acoustic sounds also was explored indirectly by virtue of utilizing taped excerpts from wind band performances to assess error detection skills.Subjects (N=24) in this study were drawn from the pool of undergraduate instrumental music education majors at Ball State University and were randomly assigned to control treatment groups prior to the administration of the Acoustic Error Detection Skills Inventory. Following this pretest, the treatment group used the Computer Error Detection Skills Program for approximately eight hours during an eight week treatment period. At the end of the treatment period, and control and treatment groups were administered the Acoustic Error Detection Skills Inventory posttest.The data were analyzed using a series of one-way, repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVA) to assess pretest to posttest changes in subjects' scores on the Acoustic Error Detection Skills Inventory. Composite scores (reflecting general skill in error detection) improved significantly for the treatment group (p = .007), while the pretest to posttest gain for the control group was not statistically significant (p = .232). These results suggest that the Computer Error Detection Skills Program was effective in enhancing subjects' rhythm and pitch error detection skills and the viability of using synthesized sound sources for training was confirmed.The following recommendations were made: (1) Jazz directors need to do more listening to jazz music, (2) band directors who direct jazz programs should join IAJE, (3) jazz ensembles shouldtheir own improvisational skills, and rehearse in the fall, (4) jazz ensemble directors should develop (5) jazz ensemble directors should have their students sing their parts during rehearsals for increased learning efficiency and retention. / Human Performance Laboratory

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between oral contraceptive use and the musculo-tendinous stiffness of the knee flexors. Twenty-three female participants and ten male participants (control group) ranging in age from 20 - 30 years. A uniaxial accelerometer was used to assess stiffness based on the exponential decay of the damped oscillation. Female groups had estradiol and 17 a-OH progesterone levels tested. At 30% of MVC, the Ortho-Tri Cyclen group, the Other OC group and women not using OC's had a mean stiffness of 249.3+94.5, 274.1+79.1 and 216.0+43.3 Nm/rad respectively and at 50% of MVC values of 290.2+70.7, 326.7+78.9 and 267.9+52.6 Nm/rad respectively. No significant difference in stiffness was found. Also no correlation was found between estradiol and stiffness. These results indicate that there was no significance between knee stiffness and oral contraceptives within the female groups. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

A maternity colony of the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) was observed from 21 May 1992 to 12 October 1992. The colony consisted of approximately 110 females at the beginning of the study, and about 180 bats following birth of the young. Bats were observed at emergence to gather data on factors affecting initial emergence: light intensity, temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed, cloud cover, and moon phase. Light intensity and cloud cover apparently are the factors most affecting the variation between initial emergence and sunset. / Department of Biology

This study was conducted to improve knowledge of the impact of chronic soil water deficit and to test a novel technique of water management consisting of Lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCO) spray application. It also aimed at evaluating changes in canopy reflectance due to water stress and LCO spray. Water stress during reproductive development resulted in an important decrease of plant physiological activity, vegetative growth, and productivity, and accelerated plant senescence at both water stress levels. Water deficit increased leaf reflectance in the visible and decreased it in the infrared ranges of the spectrum at both imposed stress levels. Foliar application of LCO affected overall plant physiological activity, increased flower and pod numbers. LCO treatment had the largest positive effect on the growth pattern of soybean at the medium stress level, which is the stress level most commonly observed in standard farm-field conditions. LCO treatment constitutes a potential technology for reducing water deficit effects. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

No description available.