Browse Exhibits (7 total)
Anya Eicher | Examining the effects of demographic and athletic variables on the retention of international student-athletes
The purpose of this study is to examine athletic and demographic variables to determine if any of these variables can predict the retention of international student-athletes. Retention is defined as the continuous enrolment in a college or university until graduation, typically in around four years. Eight independent variables will be used to evaluate retention among NCAA Division I international student-athletes; gender, location of home country (by continent), English proficiency, sport, sport type (individual or team), scholarship type (headcount or equivalency), coaching change, and average conference winning percentage. Correlation matrices and multiple linear regressions will be used to determine (1) if there is a correlation between the variables, and (2) if any of the variables can predict retention of international student-athletes. Ultimately, the results will have the potential to help college athletic personnel create best practices for developing and retaining international student-athletes.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. James Johnson
School of Kinesiology
Graduate
Briana Halloran | Postpartum depression and preconception vitamin supplementation: An analysis of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), 2016-2018
Postpartum depression (PPD), a mood disorder with a relatively unknown cause, affects around 1 in 8 women in the United States. Micronutrient levels may contribute to the pathophysiology of mood disorders and depression. This analysis aimed to examine the relationship between the intake of preconception vitamin supplements and the development of PPD using the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). The results of this analysis will better prepare healthcare workers, including dietitians, to educate women during the preconception period on the benefits of vitamin supplementation.
Faculty Mentor: Mengxi Zhang
Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences
Graduate Student
Keith Rodgers, Natalie Brooks | Establishing the Audiological Role in Diabetes Treatment through Interprofessional Community-Based Diabetes Prevention Program
The goal of this project is to highlight the role of audiologists as a part of diabetes prevention education. Through a team-based approach, the CDC’s nationally-recognized Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) was offered to interested participants for 16 weeks. The sensory organization test (SOT) was administered to participants at the beginning and end of the program. Any data collected suggesting that participants using the DPP to improve their overall health and health beliefs will also improve their balance would indicate that audiologists can be considered facilitators of this program and work regularly with prediabetic and diabetic patients.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Blair Mattern, Au.D., CCC-A
Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology
Graduate
Mariah Grange, Lauren Wake | Infant Hearing and Postpartum Depression/Anxiety Screening: An Inter-Professional Approach
Abstract: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a condition that people know little about. One in every seven women experience PPD postnatally. Health professionals and family members may be unaware of specific signs, symptoms, red flags, and risk factors that occur with PPD. In the United States, mothers do not usually see their primary doctor until about six weeks after giving birth. This means that for many of these mothers with PPD, they could potentially be going up to six weeks without receiving any care for their depression. Before COVID-19, our original study was to identify mothers who may be experiencing PPD during their infant's follow-up hearing appointment, and guide them to seek help. The second goal was to educate other health professions on the importance of screening mothers for PPD. Due to COVID-19 we continued with the Inter-Professional Education Event (IPE) portion of our original project, which included other professions in the College of Health.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lynn Bielski, Ph.D., CCC-A
Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology
Graduate
Mitchell Kissick, Anthony Milesi | Noise Induced Hearing Loss in Recreational Firearm Users
Recreational firearm users are exposing themselves to prolonged and repeated sound intensity levels that are considered dangerous to human hearing. While many shooting ranges and gun clubs require shooters to wear hearing protection while shooting is going on, often the type of hearing protection devices appropriate to the sound levels shooters are exposed to are not clear. Another consideration is that while someone may use hearing protection devices (HPDs) while at shooting ranges or gun clubs, they may be less likely to do so on their own property. This study sought to determine what attitudes of local recreational shooters are towards hearing protection devices and noise induced hearing loss, as well as to determine if there were differences in the attitudes of different age groups through the use of a survey. Another goal of this study is to use information obtained from survey responses to aid the researchers in catering hearing conservation information for shooters that is more finely focused on local attitudes and any adjustments that may need to be made to these attitudes. The hearing conservation information will then be distributed to local shooting ranges and gun clubs, as well as through social media. In general, survey responses indicate that there are some differences between age groups, though further research is needed.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lynn Bielski, Ph.D.
Speech Pathology and Audiology
Graduate
Sophia Mancini | Effects of a Soccer Specific Vertical Jump on Landing Mechanics
Soccer is becoming an increasingly popular sport amongst females. This increase also brings an increase in injuries, most notably to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). ACL injuries tend to occur during rapid acceleration and deceleration movements such as jumping. Jumping to head the ball in soccer is a common and useful movement, however, the specific landing mechanics have not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study is to analyze differences between soccer-specific vertical jump (SSVJ) and drop vertical jump (DVJ) landings, assessing 3-D lower extremity kinematics and kinetics, ground reaction forces (GRFs), and muscle activation patterns in female soccer athletes to identify the risk for ACL injury in header landings. 12 females (18-25) will participate in this study. 43 retro-reflective markers and 11 electromyography (EMG) electrodes will be attached to specific body landmarks. Participants will complete a modified dynamic warm-up before completing a series of jumps. DVJ’s and SSVJ’s will begin standing on top of a 31cm box. In DVJ’s, participants will step down, land, and immediately jump up at 100% effort before landing again. In SSVJ’s, participants will step down and upon landing, jump up to head a soccer ball suspended in the air at 50% of their maximum vertical jump height before landing again. Maximum voluntary isometric contractions will be performed using dynamometers for knee flexion and extension, ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion, and hip extension and abduction. The current study has collected data for 5 participants and is still in progress. Statistical analyses and discussion will be finalized upon completion of the study.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Henry Wang
Biomechanics Department, School of Kinesiology
Graduate
Sydney DeJonge | The Effects of a Treadmill Workstation on Coagulation Potential
PURPOSE: The increased trend of prolonged sitting during the workday in combination to added mental stress at work, increases the risk of forming a thrombus in the vasculature. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to observe the effects of low intensity walking at a treadmill workstation on changes in coagulation compared to a sedentary workstation.
METHODS: Five apparently healthy college-aged students (4 men, 1 woman; years: 22 ± 2) reported to the laboratory to complete a series of mental tasks at both a sitting workstation and a treadmill workstation. Blood samples were obtained at baseline and immediately after completion of tasks. The following assays were completed to manufacture guidelines to assess coagulation potential: prothrombin time (PT), active partial thromboplastin time (APTT), factor VII (FVII), factor VIII (FVIII), and fibrinogen. A two-way ANOVA was conducted using time (pre- and post) and condition (sitting, walking) as within-subjects factors. Significance level was set at p<0.05.
RESULTS: A significant finding of the main effect of condition and the time x condition interaction was observed for FVII (p<0.05 for both). A nonsignificant finding of the time x condition interaction was observed in FVIII (p = 0.116, n2 = 0.499). A significant difference of the main effect of time was observed in APTT (p<0.05). No significant changes were observed for fibrinogen and PT (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION: The use of an active workstation can alleviate prothrombotic changes that are associated with working at a sedentary desk without diminishing work performance. Additionally, the use of an active workstation seems to have a positive impact on various indices of mood.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Paul Nagelkrik
Integrative Exercise Physiology Laboratory, School of Kinesiology
Graduate