The Effect of Adopting an External Focus of Attention on EMG Activity and Fatigue in the Bicep Curl.

College of Professional Studies

It has been reported that adopting an external focus may enhance movement efficiency in individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of adopting distal external focus of attention on muscle activity and repetitions to failure during barbell bicep curls. This study utilized three trials for three different focus conditions (control, internal, external) to measure muscle activity through electromyography and repetitions to failure. For the internal focus condition, participants were instructed to focus on their arm performing the movement. For the external focus condition, participants focused on a light attached to the barbell and pointed at the wall.

The Effect of Descending Resistance Sets Compared to Constant Resistance Sets on the Volume Completed During a High Intensity Free Weight Back Squat Exercise

College of Professional Studies

Resistance training is effective for improving anabolic hormone production; however, no previous research has developed optimized descending resistance sets to increase training volume. The purpose of this study is to compare two different loading protocols of the free weight back squat with 85% 1RM and 30 second rest period to determine the extent of progressive resistance reductions necessary to maintain repetition performance based on the %1RM. 15 resistance trained males completed experimental sessions, including descending sets and constant sets, with the goal of greater training volume. Specifically, using descending resistance sets for back squats allows for greater training volume.

The Effect of Grazing on Frog Abundance

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This study compares the abundance of frogs in landscapes that are grazed by livestock to lands that are non-grazed. This study found no influence of grazing activity on frog abundance. This information will be an important consideration for the conservation efforts of frog species as development of lands for urbanization and agriculture continue to increase as well as for conservation managers as they work to restore and maintain quality frog habitat by reverting agricultural lands back to native landscapes.

The Effect of Interval Intensity on Time To Exhaustion During High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Running in Recreational Male Runners

College of Professional Studies

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has become popular in recent years, but a lack of guidelines for interval intensities and margins compromise exercise prescription. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 3 HIIT sessions and 1 continuous running session of the same average intensity (80% VO2max) on total Run Time to Exhaustion (TE). Ten adult male recreational runners (Age=22.9 ± 2.5 yr, Height=1.72 ± 0.1m, Body Mass=74.1 ± 7.4 kg) completed running sessions, with HIIT trials featuring 2 minute bouts and a 1:1 ratio of work to active recovery. A repeated measures ANOVA revealed mean TE differed significantly between conditions (F (3, 27) = 23.4071, p < 0.05).

The Effect of Posture on Running Economy, Kinematics, and Muscle Activation

College of Professional Studies

This study investigated the effect of postural alterations (degree of forward lean and strategy) on running economy (energy consumed), kinematics (joint motion), and muscle activation during running. We found that running with a large lean resulted in a decrease in running economy and increased hip flexion such that the body increases its reliance on the less efficient gluteus maximus muscle. Furthermore, leaning forward increased gluteus maximus activation during stance phase, particularly when accepting body weight in landing. These findings suggests that running with an upright posture or more moderate forward lean, may be more energetically optimal.

The Effect of Prescribed Fire in Northern California Dune Habitat for Avian Species

Cameron Morgan, Wildlife Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The objective of my study is to determine relative abundance and species diversity of avian species in dune habitat by comparing point counts conducted in burned sections of prescribed fires that were either treated or untreated with herbicides prior to application of fire compared to unburned areas of invasive beach grass or native dune mat. The prescribed fire event was conducted last fall in Loleta's Ocean Ranch Unit, and I am seeking to inform CDFW and Cal Fire on the potential effects of the burn on birds, with the goal of restoring our dunes to habitat with native vegetation.

The Effect of Salinity on the Concentration of Various Trace Metals in The Little River Estuary

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Trace metals are crucial to many biological processes in marine environments. In estuaries linear relationships between salinity and concentration indicate that mixing is the main determinant of concentration, while exponential relationships indicate active removal. In this study it was expected that scandium would have an exponential relationship with salinity due to its similar ionic size to iron, however, Sc displayed a linear relationship while elements that were expected to be linear were exponential. To the author’s knowledge, this data represents the first river and estuary measurements of Sc, Ce, Zr, and La, and the reasons for these surprising relationships are not fully known.

The Effect of Stride Frequency Variations on Running Performance at the Velocity of VO2max

College of Professional Studies

Running economy(RE) is considered to be a critical factor to improve running performance. Stride frequency(SF) is an important variable for determining RE. However, no previous research has investigated the interaction between running performance and SF at the velocity of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of SF variations on running performance (duration/distance) at the velocity of VO2max. 14 male recreational runners completed total 7 experimental sessions with different SF conditions. The SF variations have a significant influence on running performance, especially 105% of preferred SF conditions revealed the best performance.

The Effect of Turn Angle on the Energetic Cost of Running

College of Professional Studies

Unlike other activities, running paths do not have easily measured difficulties (ie., ski slopes, climbing level). Turn characteristics (tortuousness) are one strong contributor to path difficulty, therefore the purpose of this study is to determine if turn angle will alter the energetic cost of running.

The Effect of Workload on Exercise Volume during Exhaustive Anaerobic Treadmill Running

College of Professional Studies

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of three different workload protocols on exercise volume completed during multiple sets of exhaustive anaerobic running on a treadmill. The longer times per set and greater volume achieved during the descending speed (DS) protocol, in comparison to the descending grade (DG) and constant set (CS) protocols, suggests the potential for a greater training effect. Total exercise volume achieved during the four sets of the DS protocol was significantly higher than both the CS and DG protocols. Differences in cadence values among the protocols could help explain differences in performance implicating muscle fiber type recruitment and fatigue.