The End of the Beginning

Nearing the end of research, 141 tests later, we are finally finished with data collection now. Working on posters for both the ACSM Regional Conference and senior seminar projects. Kaylee Hoover is analyzing data to see if there is any difference in blood lactate levels between the max test on the elliptical versus the treadmill. Evan Venters is comparing caloric expenditures with and without the use of arms on both the treadmill and elliptical. Katie Timmons is focusing on the difference of the criteria for VO2max between the elliptical and treadmill. Sarah Mason is comparing cardiovascular variables on the elliptical with and without the use of arms. Matt Peterson and Lindsey Crehan both are assisting in creating these posters for the conference.

Dr. McCole and Dr. McKenzie have been a huge help this summer and we want to thank them for everything they have done for us. There was great food and fun at the McCole household. Yesterday we had the privilege of meeting Lardarius Webb and Ed Dickson (Ravens football players).

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We will be back before the start of classes for freshmen fitness testing if you wish to see how fit you are! We also want to thank our participants, if it weren’t for you this study wouldn’t have been accomplished.  It is time to go home and enjoy the remainder of the summer until we are back to finish up our projects! Enjoy your summers!

-Team Research

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A Day In The Life of an EPE Researcher

Hello Fellow Researchers! We would like to tell you a bit of how a typical day in our lab is. Along with a very early morning, just after sunrise, the research team arrives at the lab. Much preparation is needed before we start the day. This entails calibrating the VO2 system and the glucose/lactate analyzer. We need to make a 10% bleach solution for which we place the VO2 masks in after an exercise test.

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When subjects arrive they fill out health questionnaires and an informed consent paper. They will then be prepped with electrodes that measure cardiac output variables. After a ten minute resting period, and if the systems are up and calibrated, the subject will partake in an exercise test. These tests include a max exercise test on the treadmill and elliptical, a walking test on the treadmill comparing the use of arms to no arms and the use of an elliptical with and without arms.100_4614 We like to treat our subjects well so we offer them a bottle of ice cold water afterwards. Hope all is well.

EPE Research!

Summer Research in Exercise Science

Hello from the Human Performance Lab! Sorry for the late posts, this blog is harder to figure out than the Cardiac Output System, but we are up and running!

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We are going to jump right into what we have been researching this summer! We are working in the Human Performance Lab this summer with Dr. McCole and Dr. McKenzie from the Exercise Science Department. This summer we are doing two different studies; one on the treadmill and one on the elliptical, looking at the various physiological (metabolic and cardiovascular) variables associated with using arms during exercise versus not using your arms. We are learning many different lab techniques throughout the research so far.

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We are learning things such as: taking blood samples, proper placement of electrodes, data analysis, and learning how to operate and understand the VO2 and Cardiac Output Systems. Each individual researcher is starting to focus on particular topic within the study. The data collected and analyzed will be used in each researchers’ senior seminar project. We have started performing this study on ourselves along with volunteer  participants, and cannot wait to see where this study takes us!

Happy Researching!!!

 

“Mesh Traps”

Episode number: Season one, episode two

Air date: June 15, 2013

“Mesh Traps” is the second episode of the TV series The League of the Green Hornet and first broadcast on June 15, 2013. The series started its production on June 14, 2013. After week of careful planning and scheduling, it was finally the day to ut in action the soil re-colonization project. List of supplies and specific plans were made in order for filming to happen. On June 14, the team finally started shooting under the supervision of Dr. Brett McMillan.

 

MEMO0007A total of 48 mesh traps were buried 3 inches in the soil in 6 different sites. There are two locations per site, one near the path and one away from the path.  The near the path and away from the path mesh traps are filled with topsoil. Every sample has its own control mesh trap filled with regular soil. The purpose of the Soil re-colonization experiment is to determine the rate of re-colonization of invertebrates near the path and away from the path in order to verify if the path serves as a barrier for soil invertebrates.  We hypothesize that the samples near the trail will have slower rate of re-colonization due to the disturbance of the path used by humans and horses.  An early harvest will be collected in 5 days (Wed. 19 ) to determine the rate of re-colonization.  A late harvest will be collected in 11 days (Mon. 24).

MEMO0015Detectives Mary Chow, Xi Huang, Shirley Mancia, and Dr. Brett McMillian had a very efficientday placing 48 traps in 5 hours.  Thanks to Mary’s muscle power with the apparatus, Xi’s courage to go through the vegetation, Shirley’s speed filling the traps, and Dr. McMillian’s broad knowledge of vegetation. After completing 4 sites, we took a lunch break and on Shirley’s way to the van she saw an eastern smooth earthsnake.  It was not terrifying but surprising as it slithered back in to the tall grass. After completing the sixth site we felt very satisfied and accomplished after a long morning in the field.

 

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A Study in Soil

Episode number: Season one, episode one

Directed by: Dr. Jacobs and Dr. McMillan

Written by: Xi Huang

Starring: Invertebrates

Mary Chow

Shirley Mancia

Xi Huang

Dr. Molly Jacobs a.k.a. Molly

Dr. Brett McMillan

Air date: June 9, 2013

From left to right. Xi Huang, Mary Chow, and Shirley Mancia.

Getting soil samples.

Getting soil samples.

“A Study in Soil” is the first episode of the TV series The League of the Green Hornet and first broadcast on June 9, 2013. The series started its production on May 29, 2013. It took three days of careful planning and getting ready. List of supplies and specific plans were made in order for filming to happen. On June 6, the team finally started shooting under the supervision of Molly.

 

PLOT

During the summer of 2013, in an ordinary neighborhood called Hashawha, three private investigators (Mary Chow, Shirley Mancia, and Xi Huang) joined forces to solve a mysterious case: whether trails in Hashawha act as a barrier in the migration of soil invertebrate communities.

A total of 60 soil samples will be collected from eight different sites. Nine samples will be from each of the four path sites: three samples from the center of the trail, three 3 m from the creek, and three 8 m from the creek. Six samples will be collected from each of the four non-path sites: three 3 m from the creek and three 8 m from the creek. The purpose of doing this is to test if soil invertebrate communities change on a gradient away from stream.

Detective Shirley Mancia recovers her thermometer.

Detective Shirley Mancia recovers her thermometer.

While the investigators were working on their first site, something unexpected happened. Detective Shirley Mancia lost her precious thermometer! After Inspector Mary Chow poked a 9-inch-deep hole in the ground with a Soil Compaction Tester, Detective Shirley Mancia accidentally dropped the thermometer that was used to measure soil temperature down the 9-inch hole. In a moment of panic, Shirley started digging frantically. Fortunately, the thermometer was recovered. So once again, the day is saved. thanks to the League of the Green Hornet. But will they be so lucky next time? Until next episode.