Surgical Smoke: The Forgotten Biohazard

Julie Wooldridge, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

Surgical smoke, a byproduct of surgical procedures, poses significant health risks to healthcare workers and patients. However, surgical staff often overlook it as a biohazard in operating rooms. This project highlights the harmful toxins of surgical smoke, including exposure to carcinogens and infectious agents, and the need for policy change to mandate local smoke evacuation. Effective policies and guidelines for smoke evacuation modeled from evidence-based research, combined with adequate education, awareness, and training, can minimize the risks of surgical smoke in the operating room and empower nurse leaders to ensure the safety of healthcare workers and patients.

Sustainability in Mental Health

Meghan Stanton, Social Work Graduate Student

College of Professional Studies

Our community project has been multifaceted as there are several issues impacting Semper Virens. We have been focusing on identifying ways to utilize the physical environment of Semper Virens in more therapeutic ways that would also be more welcoming and nurturing for the clients as well as more positive for the staff. We have simultaneously been developing workbooks of complementary exercises and activities aimed at improving mental health, wellness, and selfcare. The workbooks contain a variety of approaches including one specifically adapted for Native Americans.

Targeted Education and Monitoring to Reduce Diabetes Complications in Spanish-Speaking Patients on the North Coast

College of Professional Studies

Inconsistent follow-up care for Spanish-speaking patients with type 2 diabetes leads to unfavorable health outcomes and inequities for this population due to various socioeconomic barriers. With proper diabetes self-management, many patients can keep their A1C below 7%. Diabetes education incorporating culturally humility can improve patients’ health outcomes. Interventions at multiple levels are evaluated to address this practice disparity. The objective for Spanish-speaking low-income patients is diabetes care continuity so they can self-manage their illness and reduce complications. Process and impact evaluation strategies were analyzed to find the effectiveness of these implementations.

The "Lester Leaps In" Music Listening Project

College of Professional Studies

My research project is the implementation of a music listening library at the Humboldt Senior Resource Center for participants of the Alzheimer's Day Program. I will be providing the Center with 4 Ipods with playlists accompanied by 4 picture album books highlighting the musicians in the playlists.

The Beautiful Body Project

College of Professional Studies

Eating disorders affect at least 9% of the world population (ANAD, 2020). About 28-74% of risk from eating disorders is through genetic heritability (ANAD, 2020). In the City of Whittier there is a lack of awareness and education on body positivity and eating disorders. The Beautiful Body Project will increase middle and high school student's awareness of eating disorders. It will also promote body positivity among these students. This program aims to provide resources for not only the students but also the community.

The Body’s Adaptations to Facilitate Motor Learning and Injury Prevention for the Overhand Throw Skill in Baseball Players

Dominic Gallardo, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

This poster presentation explores motor learning of the overhand throw skill specifically for baseball players. The research describes the necessary variables contributing to adequate development of the skill and how the skill should be performed. In addition, injury prevention is a vital component in performing a skill that should be critical for high level athletes.

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 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.