BackgroundThe college environment offers great opportunity for HIV high-risk behaviors, including unsafe sex and multiple partnerships. While the overall incidence of HIV infection has seen some decline in recent years, rates of HIV infection among young adults have not seen a proportionate decline. As in the general population, African American young adults have been disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This study examined the sexual risk behaviors and perception of HIV risk of students in a predominantly African American commuter urban university in the Midwest.MethodsStudents enrolled in randomly selected general education courses completed a paper and pencil survey. Data were collected in Fall 2007, and univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted using SPSS for Windows v.16.ResultsThe sample included 390 students, the majority (83%) of whom were never married and 87% were sexually experienced. Among males reporting male partnerships those who used marijuana (OR = 17.5, p = 0.01) and those who used alcohol along with illegal drugs (OR = 8.8, p = 0.03) were significantly more likely to report multiple partnerships. Among females reporting male partnerships, those 30 years and older were significantly less likely (OR = 0.09, p = 0.03) to report having multiple male partners. There were significant differences in condom use last sex (p = 0.01) and consistent condom use (p = 0.002) among the different age groups. Older students were less likely to report condom use. Females age 30 years and older (OR = 3.74, p = 0.05) and respondents age 20‐29 years (OR = 2.41, p = 0.03) were more likely to report inconsistent condom use than those below 20 years. Marijuana use was correlated with inconsistent condom use (p = 0.02) and alcohol with not using condom last sex among females. Perception of HIV risk was generally poor with 54% of those age 30 years and older, 48.1% of 20‐29 year olds, and 57.9% of those below the age of 20 years perceived themselves as not having any chance of being infected with HIV. Predictors of moderate/good perception of HIV risk were drug and alcohol use, inconsistent condom use, and multiple partnerships.ConclusionStudents in the study sample engaged in various HIV risk behaviors but have a poor appreciation of their risk of HIV infection. While low rates of condom use was a problem among older students (30 years and older), multiple partnerships were more common among younger students, and marijuana and alcohol use were related to low condom use among females. Our findings support the need for targeted HIV prevention interventions on college campuses.

The postural stability of 1280 healthy subjects (640 males and 640 females) between the ages of 6 and 85 years was measured using a modified single limb stance timed test. Balance performance for both sexes increased with chronological age but peaked at different ages. The males' performance with eyes opened and eyes closed peaked at the third decade of life, after which a progressive decline was found. The females' performance with eyes opened and eyes closed peaked at the fourth decade of life and thereafter progressively declined. Except for the first decade of life, males performed better (p < 0.001) than females at all ages. The results of the stepwise regression analyses revealed that stature and body weight were the two viable anthropometric determinants of balance performance; the contribution of body surface area and body adiposity to the prediction of balance performance was negligible.

This study investigated the proposed link between students' academic performance and burnout. We found no significant correlations between students' cumulative grade point average and ratings of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment.

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The primary purpose of this study was to compare the Caltrac accelerometer output with measured energy expenditure (Ee). Twenty-five volunteers (10 men, 15 women) walked on a level motor-driven treadmill at four different speeds (54, 81, 104, and 130 m.min-1) with the Caltrac device affixed to the waistline. Each of the four experimental trials lasted eight minutes, and the testing was completed within an hour. During the test, oxygen consumption (VO2) (in L.min-1 and in mL.kg-1.min-1) and nonprotein respiratory exchange ratio were monitored by the Beckman Horizon metabolic cart. The accelerometer output at the end of each exercise bout was also monitored and subsequently divided by 8 to convert the readings to counts.min-1. The mean VO2 (L.min-1) at steady state (ie, 6th-8th minutes of exercise) was converted to a caloric value. We obtained a moderate correlation coefficient (r) of .76 between the accelerometer output and the VO2 (mL.kg-1.min-1) and a high correlation coefficient of .92 between the Ee and the accelerometer readings. The Caltrac accelerometer output (counts.min-1) was significantly higher (p less than .01) than the Ee (kcal.min-1) at the four walking speeds. The difference between the accelerometer output and the Ee ranged from 13.3% to 52.9%. The data were further analyzed with linear, polynomial, multiple, and stepwise regression models. The results of the analyses revealed that the Caltrac accelerometer output is a valid predictor of Ee during level walking when the appropriate regression equation is used to adjust the values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Grip strength measurement provides an objective index about the functional integrity of the upper extremities. The Harpenden(R) dynamometer is a new mechanical device used to assess grip strength; however, there is a dearth of information on its ability to reproduce results and a scarcity of norms to which patient data can be compared. The purposes of this study were to determine the reliability of the Harpenden dynamometer and to establish normative data for the dynamometer. In a pilot study, the authors recruited 120 college students (60 male and 60 female) and measured their right and left hand grip strength on two different occasions 1 week apart. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found between the readings on day one and day two, and all Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients (calculated for the male and female data separately and combined) were greater than 0.90 (p < 0.001). During the main study, grip strength of both extremities was measured in 960 subjects (480 men and 480 women) ranging in age from 7 to 84 years. In both hands, grip strength increased with chronological age and peaked between 30-39 years in males and 20-29 years in females. The student t-test result revealed that grip strength in males was consistently higher (p < 0.01) than females for all ages except during the first decade of life. After 30, male grip strength is nearly double female grip strength. The paired t-test showed that right hand grip strength was significantly (p < 0.0001) greater than left hand grip strength at all ages. The one-way analysis of variance and Scheffé post hoc test for strength data in both extremities revealed that, in general, there were significant (p < 0.05) differences in grip strength with each corresponding decade. The authors have presented grip strength norms for both sexes at different ages and discussed the clinical relevance of their findings. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1991;14(4):155-160.

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The primary aim of this study was to determine the viability of using physical characteristic parameters to predict grip strength. We measured the weight, height, Quetelet index (weight/height') and grip strength of 960 subjects (480 males and 480 females), ranging in age from 7 to 84 years. We analysed our data using linear-, multiple-and stepwise-regression models. We found that grip strength is positively related to: (1) age up to the third decade of life, and thereafter grip strength is inversely related to age; (2) both body weight and height at all ages; and (3) the Quetelet index during the-first two decades of life. Furthermore, we found that grip strength can reliably be predicted from age, weight, height and the Quetelet index (P