Physical Scale Research Articles

Validity of the Physical activity scale for the elderly: results from the Neyshabur Longitudinal Study on Ageing

Background. Adequate physical activity is essential to healthy aging. This study aimed to examine the construct validity of the Persian version of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) among community-dwelling adults, which would be used as a screening tool at the Neyshabur longitudinal study on the aging (NELSA) Center. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Neyshabur, Iran, as a pilot phase at the NELSA center between May and January 2019. The sampling method was a stratified random method. For explanatory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), 300 and 650 community-dwelling adults aged 50 and older were selected, respectively. EFA was used with the principal component extraction method, and Varimax rotation and CFA were performed with the maximum likelihood estimation method. Results. Of the 950 participants, 445 (46.8%) were male, and 505 (53.2%) were female. The mean age of participants was 63 ± 8.6 years. The mean physical activity score was 89.7 ± 70.7. According to the percentage of variance explained in EFA, all five extracted factors explained 62.7% of the total variance. The results of CFA showed that all item-scale relationships were significant (P < 0.05), except for household activity (Q8) and leisure time activity (Q2) (P > 0.05). The values of the fit indices showed that the model fits well with the data. Conclusion. The EFA and CFA confirmed the construct validity of the Persian version of PASE. This questionnaire is suitable for measuring the physical activity level of older Persian adults. Practical Implications. The Persian version of PASE is suitable for measuring the physical activity level of older Persian adults.

PECULIARITIES OF BODY IMAGE INFLUENCE ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH AND LOW LEVELS OF PHYSICAL

The article discusses the peculiarities of the influence of body image on the quality of life in individuals with high and low levels of physical perfectionism. The analysis of scientific literature shows that today, satisfaction with one’s appearance and a healthy body image are among the key aspects of the psychological and physical health of a modern person. In our study, we define the concept of “body image” as a person’s perception of his or her body, not only in terms of appearance and the degree of its attractiveness. It is also a set of ideas about one’s physical abilities, health, body endurance, etc. By the term “physical perfectionism” we mean a system of personal beliefs and attitudes related to a person’s appearance: increased concern and dissatisfaction with one’s appearance, the desire to meet high body standards, to achieve the best results in the struggle for an ideal figure, as well as a painful attitude to any critical remarks about one’s appearance. To test the theoretical construct of those psychological features that determine the specifics of the impact of body image on the quality of life in individuals with high and low levels of physical perfectionism, we used diagnostic tools, namely: Physical perfectionism scale (A. B. Kholmogorova, A. O. Dadeko, adaptation on the Ukrainian sample by M. I. Babchuk); The Situational Body Image Dissatisfaction Inventory (SIBID) (T. Cash); Body Image Influence on Quality of Life (BIQLI) (T. Cash). The next step was a differential psychological analysis of the results obtained, which consisted of: first, grouping the subjects by qualitative and quantitative combination of indicators of physical perfectionism, and second, studying the personality traits inherent in the representatives of the selected groups. Subsequently, on the basis of the constructed profiles, the psychological characteristics of individuals from the selected groups with high and low levels of physical perfectionism were compiled and described.

The effect of physical activity on the subjective well-being of rural left-behind children: the mediating role of discrimination perceptions and loneliness

ObjectiveThis study explored the mediating role of perceptions of discrimination and loneliness on the relationship between physical exercise and subjective well-being in rural left-behind children.MethodsA package of surveys were administered to junior high school students and senior primary school students (n = 592) in the countryside, which including the scale of the Physical Activity Behavior Scale, Subjective Well-Being Scale, Perceived Discrimination Scale, and Loneliness Scale. Structural Equation Modeling and Bootstrap were used to analyze the data to investigate the chain mediating effect of perceived discrimination and loneliness.Results(1) There was a positive correlation between physical activity and subjective well-being, and the direct prediction of subjective well-being was significant. (2) Physical activity negatively predicted perceptions of discrimination, and perceptions of discrimination positively predicted loneliness and negatively predicted subjective well-being, and loneliness could negatively predict subjective well-being. (3) Perception of discrimination and loneliness significantly mediated the relationship between physical activity and subjective well-being. The mediating effect consisted of indirect effects generated by 2 paths, one was that physical exercise indirectly affected subjective well-being by affecting discrimination perception, and the other was that physical exercise further acted on subjective well-being through the chain mediating effect from discrimination perception to loneliness.ConclusionPhysical exercise can directly affect the subjective well-being of rural left-behind children. Physical exercise can indirectly affect left-behind children’s subjective well-being through discrimination perceptions, and it can also indirectly affect left-behind children’s subjective well-being through the chain mediating effect of discrimination perceptions and loneliness.

Development and validation of a novel method for assessing physical activity profiles after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: The Sports and Physical Activity scale

ObjectivesTo describe and evaluate the preliminary validity of a novel scoring system for assessing the physical activity of patients after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. MethodsThe Sports and Physical Activity (SPA) scale consists of thirty options of sports and physical activities, followed by four frequency options for each option selected. Factors used to develop the scoring system were frequency of participation and intensity of the sports or physical activities. Possible scores ranged from a low of 0 to a high of 24. The scale was assessed for validity and responsiveness. ResultsThe study cohort included 418 primary ACL reconstructed patients 2 years after surgery, and a subgroup of 183 patient 5 years after surgery. The mean and median SPA scores for the cohort were 12.35 ( ​± ​6.95) and 12, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the scores of men and women (U ​= ​21,541.0, p ​= ​0.921). The SPA scale had a small but statistically significant inverse correlation with age (rs ​= ​−0.2, p = <0.001), indicating divergent validity. Patients who had returned to sport had a statistically significantly higher score (U ​= ​21593.5, p = <0.001), and there was a statistically significant difference between scores of the three current sports status groups (H ​= ​19.99, p value = <0.001) indicating convergent validity. Construct validity was indicated with a statistically significant correlation with the Marx scale (rs ​= ​0.422, p value= <0.001). In a subgroup (n ​= ​183) of the patient sample, comparison between scores at 2-years (13.27 ​± ​7.02) and 5-years (12.11 ​± ​7.88) found a statistically significant decline (p= <0.001). However, this decline was smaller than the decline seen in the Marx score between 2 and 5 years (11.11 ​± ​4.07 and 9.30 ​± ​4.52 p= <0.001). ConclusionPreliminary validity was found for the SPA scale. Women and men were found to be participating in a similar amount of activity 2 years post ACL reconstruction, despite return to sport differences between men and women being well documented. The scores of the SPA scale showed a statistically significant decrease over time with a negligible effect size. Level of evidenceIII.

First-order electroweak phase transition at finite density

We study the Electroweak phase transition with the Standard Model effective field theory at finite temperature and finite density. Utilizing the dimensional reduction approach, we construct the tree dimensional thermal effective field theory at finite density and investigate the phase transition dynamics. We evaluate how the results depend on the renormalization scale and the chemical potential. Our results show that, with the tree dimensional thermal effective potential at 2-loop level, we can effectively reduce the theoretical uncertainty in the calculations of the phase transition parameters due to the renormalization scale dependence, and the new physics scale is restricted to be Λ ≲ (770 − 800) GeV by the baryon number washout avoidance condition. Meanwhile, the presence of the chemical potential would affect the phase transition parameter and make the constraints from the baryon number washout avoidance condition more strict, especially for weaker first-order phase transition scenarios at higher new physics scales.

Physical education consumption and executive function among older empty nesters in urban community: A double mediation effects

ObjectiveThe main aim of this research was to determine the relationships among executive function, fitness mobile applications (APPs), physical exercise activity and physical education consumption in community-dwelling older empty nesters. MethodsA cross-sectional design was applied to evaluate the relationships. A sample of 1104 community-dwelling older empty nesters completed the experiments. Physical education consumption scale, fitness APPs by smartphone application scale, physical exercise activity scale, and executive function scale were applied for the evaluation of the elderly alone in urban communities in southeast China. To explore mediating effects, structural equation modeling of AMOS 23.0, SPSS 25.0 and Process V3.5 software packages were applied for statistical processing. ResultPhysical education consumption positively predicted executive function. Meanwhile, it was also found that physical education consumption and executive function were continuously mediated by fitness APP application and physical exercise activity, with indirect effect value of 0.267, accounting for 76 %. ConclusionThis research revealed how physical education consumption affected executive function of older empty nesters. The obtained results had certain implications for older empty nesters to better balance their executive function and life quality. Community managers should provide older empty nesters with favorable physical education environments in terms of positive physical and psychological environments, to improve their use ratio of fitness APPs usage and physical exercise activity, ultimately enhancing their executive function and life satisfaction.

Outcomes of a Self-Management Program for People with Non-Communicable Diseases in the Context of COVID-19.

To evaluate the effectiveness of the online version of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) on physical activity and depressive symptoms in individuals with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Mexico and Peru during the COVID-19 pandemic. Quasi-experimental study with a non-probability sample of 114 people with NCDs, recruited by invitation in Mexico and by convenience in Peru. The participants were assigned to intervention (n = 85) and control (n = 29) groups. The Personal Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) and the Physical Activity Scale were used to assess the outcomes. Measurements were taken before and after the intervention. The CDSMP comprises six sessions that take place once per week and last 2.5 h each. The intervention group showed a significant reduction in depressive symptoms and an increase in physical activity (PA) at the end of the program. In contrast, the control group showed no significant improvement in depression and presented a significant decrease in PA.

Associations of physical activity and physical education enjoyment with self-concept domains among Hungarian adolescents

BackgroundSport enjoyment is one of the most important factors in physical activity (PA) and physical education (PE) domains. It is not only beneficial for regular participation but also has a positive effect on mental health. Due to these benefits, this study aims to understand the relationships between PA, two forms of enjoyment, and the dimension of self-concept.MethodsThe sample consisted of 315 students (Mage=12.63). The Self-Description Questionnaire-I was used to measure the domains of self-concept. Enjoyment was measured with two scales. The Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale reflects extracurricular PA enjoyment, and the Factors Influencing Enjoyment of Physical Education Questionnaire reflects school PE enjoyment. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess vigorous, moderate, and walking types of extracurricular PA enjoyment.ResultsHierarchical multivariate regression analysis revealed that vigorous PA predicted physical ability (β = 0.19) and physical appearance (β = 0.15). PA enjoyment was a significant predictor of general self-concept (β = 0.29), physical ability (β = 0.28), physical appearance (β = 0.16), peer relation (β = 0.16), and parental relations (β = 0.14). PE enjoyment significantly predicted general school (β = 0.17), physical ability (β = 0.27), peer relations (β = 0.21) and parental relations (β = 0.22). Furthermore, boys scored at a higher level on most of self-concept domains.ConclusionsThe present study suggested that enjoyment plays a more important role in self-concept than PA. PE enjoyment mainly strengthens boys’ self-concept, but PA enjoyment is an important predictor of general self-concept in both genders. It is concluded that extracurricular PA enjoyment is beneficial, but increasing enjoyment of physical education could increase girls’ self-concepts as well.

Examination of Physical Activity Attitudes and Anti-Social Behaviors of Middle School Students

The aim of this study is to examine the physical activity attitudes and antisocial behaviors of middle school students. The research group of the study consisted of a total of 1046 students, 509 boys and 537 girls, aged between 11 and 13, studying in 5-6-7-8th grades in three secondary schools affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in Esenyurt district of Istanbul province in the 2022-2023 academic year. "Personal Information Form", "Physical Activity Attitude Scale for Secondary School Students" and "Antisocial Behavior Scale for Secondary School Students" were used as data collection tools. SPSS 25.0 statistical package program was used to evaluate the data and to find calculated values. Data were summarized by giving mean and standard deviations. Whether the data were normally distributed was checked with the range of Kurtosis and Skewness coefficients and it was determined that the data were normally distributed. Since the data were normally distributed, independent group t-test was used for pairwise cluster comparisons and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used for more than two cluster comparisons. Tukey HSD multiple comparison test was used to determine the source of significant differences as a result of ANOVA. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to determine whether there was a significant relationship between the mean scores of the Physical Activity Attitude Scale and Antisocial Behavior Scale sub-dimensions of the participants who participated in the study. Within the scope of this study, the scale reliability coefficient was calculated as .77. The significance level was taken as 0.05. As a result of the analysis, no significant difference was found between the physical activity attitudes of secondary school students and family income level and mother's working status (p&amp;gt;0.05), while a significant difference was found between gender, grade level, mother's education level and father's education level variables (p&amp;lt;0.05). While no significant difference was observed between antisocial behaviors and family income level (p&amp;gt;0.05), a significant difference was found between other demographic variables (p&amp;lt;0.05). In addition, while no significant difference was found between the self-confidence sub-dimension of the Physical Activity Attitude Scale and the inappropriate behavior sub-dimension of the Antisocial Behavior Scale (p&amp;gt;0.01), significant differences were found between the other sub-dimensions (p&amp;lt;0.01) As a result, it can be said that students' physical activity attitudes affect antisocial behaviors.

Association between the perceived built environment and health behaviors in older adults: a cross-sectional study from Beijing, China

BackgroundUnder the background of the increasing trend of population aging, the health and quality of life of older adults have become the focus of social concern. As an important part of older adults’ daily life, the design and configuration of the built environment may positively or negatively affect older adults’ health behaviors. Therefore, this study aims to explore the relationship between older adults’ perceived built environments and health behaviors, which is the association between perceived built environments and older adults’ physical activity (PA) and social interactions. This is important for optimizing the community built environment and improving the quality of life of older adults.MethodsIn this study, a questionnaire was surveyed on 916 Chinese older adults aged 60 and above. The questionnaire was used to collect demographic information and social interaction from the participants, and the Physical Activity Neighborhood Environment Scale (PANES) and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) were used to assess older adults’ subjective perceptions of the built environment in their neighborhoods and their levels of PA, respectively. In data analysis, ANOVA and chi-square tests were used to compare the significance of differences between groups, and multiple linear regression model were used to estimate the association between older adults’ perceived characteristics of the built environment and their PA and social interaction.ResultsAfter controlling for confounders such as gender, age, BMI, and education level, the multiple linear regression model showed that perceived destination accessibility, neighborhood infrastructure, aesthetic qualities, and neighborhood environment indices were significantly correlated with PA (β = 0.083 ~ 0.095, P < 0.05) and social interaction (β = 0.087 ~ 0.144, P < 0.05) among older adults. In addition, neighborhood safety (β = -0.084, P < 0.05), social environment (β = 0.091, P < 0.01), and street connectivity (β = 0.112, P < 0.001) were also strongly associated with older adults’ social interaction.ConclusionsDifferent perceived built environment attributes are correlated with the health behaviors of Chinese older adults to different degrees. This finding helps to guide community planning and construction, provides an empirical basis for improving health behaviors of older adults, and provides an important reference for building healthy communities for older adults and realizing comprehensive healthy development of older adults.Trial registrationThere was no trial registration for this study, but the study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Tsinghua University (No. THU0120230196).

Predictors of six-month change in health-related quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis: A secondary data analysis of a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundSymptomatic treatment in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) requires multidisciplinary rehabilitation to alleviate disease progression and increasing health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, the participant- and disease-specific factors that predict sustained improvement in HRQoL in pwMS undergoing inpatient rehabilitation remain unclear. Identifying these factors can help individually tailor inpatient rehabilitation programmes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify factors of pwMS at clinic entry for a three-week multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation that predict the change in physical and mental HRQoL over six months. MethodsThis is a secondary data analysis of a randomized controlled trial (NCT04356248) conducted at the Valens Rehabilitation Centre, Switzerland. HRQoL was assessed with the Medical Outcome Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) at clinic entry (T0; baseline) and six months after (T3; six-month follow-up). Data for 99 pwMS (mean age in years: 49.60 ± 10.17 SD, mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score: 4.62 ± 1.33 SD, 68.7 % female) were analysed using multiple linear regression. Outcome variables were six-month change in SF-36 Physical (ΔPCS) and Mental Component Scale (ΔMCS) scores. Predictor variables included baseline scores of PCS or MCS, fatigue, anxiety, depressive mood, cardiorespiratory fitness (V̇O2peak/kg), self-efficacy, smoking status, education level, age, EDSS, sex, time since diagnosis and MS phenotype. ResultsThe regression model with ΔPCS as outcome variable explained 18.6 % of the variance of the ΔPCS score (p = .003). Lower PCS score (p < .001) and lower depressive mood (p = .032) at baseline predicted higher ΔPCS score. The regression model with ΔMCS as outcome variable explained 26.8 % of the variance of the ΔMCS score (p < .001). Lower MCS score (p < .001) and longer time since diagnosis (p = .048) at baseline predicted higher ΔMCS score. ConclusionPwMS with lower physical HRQoL and better mood at clinic entry improved most in physical HRQoL over six months. PwMS with lower mental HRQoL and longer time since diagnosis at clinic entry improved most in mental HRQoL over six months. The results of this study contribute to the development of individualized rehabilitation programmes with the aim of maintaining and/or improving HRQoL of pwMS beyond the inpatient rehabilitation stay.

Validation and Measurement Invariance of the Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport Scale (TAPAS) Among Thai Young Adults.

Examining ways of reducing physical inactivity has been at the forefront of public health research. Moreover, valid and reliable scales are needed to objectively assess physical activity (PA) avoidance. Previous research has shown that experiencing weight stigma and physical appearance-related concerns are associated with physical inactivity. However, there is currently no Thai instrument that assesses physical inactivity in relation to weight stigma. Therefore, the present study examined the psychometric properties of the Thai version of the Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport Scale (TAPAS). Thai university students (N = 612) recruited via convenience sampling completed an online survey using SurveyMonkey between September 2022 and January 2023. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), multigroup CFA, and Pearson correlations (between TAPAS scores, age, body mass index, and time spent exercising) were used to analyze the data. The CFA showed robust psychometric properties for the Thai version of TAPAS regarding its unidimensional structure. The TAPAS was measurement invariant across sex, weight status, and daily hours of exercise. However, no significant Pearson correlations were found. In general, the results showed that the TAPAS is a good scale for assessing PA avoidance among Thai young adults across different sexes, weight status, and daily hours of exercise.

Nutritional Health Risk (Food Security) in Thai Older Adults and Related Factors.

The older adult population in Thailand has been steadily increasing in recent years, and urbanization has resulted in many older adults living independently, leaving many at nutritional risk. The purpose of this research is to explore food security among Thai older adults using a simple screening tool, the DETERMINE tool, as well as from three surveys which reflect seniors' health and ultimately food security including the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), the self-efficacy for physical activity scale (SEPAS), and the health literacy questionnaire. The DETERMINE tool was used in Thailand for the first time in this study. The findings revealed a moderate risk of food insecurity amongst participants, as most of them claimed to have underlying diseases, eat alone, eat a few nutrient-rich foods, and take medication. The MMSE, SEPAS, and health literacy questionnaire results suggested that food security was found to be negatively correlated with higher cognitive ability, higher physical activity, self-efficacy, and higher health literacy. In conclusion, there appears to be a high risk for malnutrition among older adults in Thailand, particularly in those with low income and underlying diseases.

Impact of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy on Fatigue in Obese Patients.

Background: Fatigue with obesity negatively affects the motivation to lose weight and causes failure of treatment. So, obesity and fatigue are two related entities that worsen each other in a vicious circle. This study aimed to examine the changes in fatigue levels in obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Methods: Preoperative and postoperative BMI, fat percentage, and obesity degree were determined based on Tanita test results, and the rates of change were calculated. The Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) was used to assess the impact of obesity on mental and physical fatigue. Results: Six months after LSG, there was a 29.7% decrease in Body Mass Index (BMI) across all patients (45.0 to 31.4, p < 0.001). Significant reductions in the percentage of body fat, obesity grade, and HgA1C were observed in both women and men and overall (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Scores on the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) for total, mental, and physical scales decreased significantly for women, men, and all participants (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). There was a weak but significant positive correlation between the percentage change in FAS total and FAS physical scale scores and the change in BMI% (p = 0.015 and 0.004; r = 0.089, 0.106, respectively). Change in obesity grade and FAS physical subscale scores negatively correlated (p = 0.029, r = 0.080). Conclusions: LSG not only leads to significant weight reduction but also improves fatigue levels in patients with obesity.

Responsiveness of the Oswestry Disability Index and Zurich Claudication Questionnaire in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: evaluation of surgically treated patients from the NORDSTEN study

PurposeTo evaluate the responsiveness of the original low back pain specific Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the spinal stenosis specific Zürich Claudication Questionnaire (ZCQ), and to investigate cut-off values for clinical “success” for ODI and ZCQ in surgically treated patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).MethodsWe included 601 LSS patients (218 with, 383 without degenerative spondylolisthesis) from the NORDSTEN trials. Outcome measures included ODI and ZCQ (symptom severity and physical function scales) with three alternative response parameters: scores at follow-up, absolute and relative changes from baseline to two-year follow-up. Effect size and standardised response mean evaluated internal responsiveness. External responsiveness was assessed by the Spearman rank correlation between patient-reported global perceived effect scale (GPE) and ODI and ZCQ, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC). We evaluated which cut-off values could maximise the percentage of correctly classified patients according to the GPE-anchor “completely recovered” / “much improved” for each parameter.ResultsInternal and external responsiveness were high for all three indices with effect sizes, standardized response means, ROC and corresponding area under the curve > 0.8. Correlations with GPE responses were moderate (> 0.50) for absolute change and strong (> 0.67) for relative change and follow-up scores. The 30% ODI relative change cut-off correctly classified 81% of patients to “success”, within a range of accurate cut-offs according to the GPE-anchor.ConclusionODI and ZCQ demonstrate comparable responsiveness in evaluating outcomes for surgically treated LSS patients. The 30% ODI threshold was consistent with treatment “success” in NORDSTEN trials.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov; NCT02007083 10/12/2013, NCT02051374 31/01/2014 and NCT03562936 20/06/2018.

Balancing efficacy and computational burden: weighted mean, multiple imputation, and inverse probability weighting methods for item non-response in reliable scales.

Scales often arise from multi-item questionnaires, yet commonly face item non-response. Traditional solutions use weighted mean (WMean) from available responses, but potentially overlook missing data intricacies. Advanced methods like multiple imputation (MI) address broader missing data, but demand increased computational resources. Researchers frequently use survey data in the All of Us Research Program (All of Us), and it is imperative to determine if the increased computational burden of employing MI to handle non-response is justifiable. Using the 5-item Physical Activity Neighborhood Environment Scale (PANES) in All of Us, this study assessed the tradeoff between efficacy and computational demands of WMean, MI, and inverse probability weighting (IPW) when dealing with item non-response. Synthetic missingness, allowing 1 or more item non-response, was introduced into PANES across 3 missing mechanisms and various missing percentages (10%-50%). Each scenario compared WMean of complete questions, MI, and IPW on bias, variability, coverage probability, and computation time. All methods showed minimal biases (all <5.5%) for good internal consistency, with WMean suffered most with poor consistency. IPW showed considerable variability with increasing missing percentage. MI required significantly more computational resources, taking >8000 and >100 times longer than WMean and IPW in full data analysis, respectively. The marginal performance advantages of MI for item non-response in highly reliable scales do not warrant its escalated cloud computational burden in All of Us, particularly when coupled with computationally demanding post-imputation analyses. Researchers using survey scales with low missingness could utilize WMean to reduce computing burden.

Acute Affective Responses to Virtual Reality Exercise: A Crossover Randomized Clinical Trial.

Virtual reality (VR) exercise aims to offer positive affective and sensory experiences through an immersive experience rich in audiovisual stimuli. Notwithstanding, there is a paucity of large sample size studies comparing the acute effects of VR exercise compared with a matched exercise performed in a non-VR environment. The study compared the acute effects of a VR exercise session versus a matched non-VR exercise session in effect, pleasure, enjoyment, perceived exertion, and heart rate. This is a crossover randomized clinical trial. The time, difficulty, and exercise type of the non-VR exercise were matched to VR exercise. Before and immediately after each session, participants responded to the Borg's Perceived Exertion Scale, the Feeling Scale and the Felt Arousal Scale, and the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale. The analyses were conducted with Generalized Linear Models, Wilcoxon's, and T-test for paired samples. A total of 83 adults (40 females) aged 35.46 years were included in the study. Participants in the VR condition had a greater increase in affect (mean change difference = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.83-1.06, P < 0.001), arousal (mean change difference = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.23-9.50, P < 0.001). The pleasure and enjoyment median after the VR session were higher. In conclusion, the immersive VR exercise was more strenuous, but resulted in a better affective response, greater pleasure, and enjoyment.

Observing Electrochemical Performance Trends with the Physical Scaling of Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis for the Capture and Concentration of Atmospheric CO2

Bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BPMED) is a proven technology for separating ionic species driven by electrochemical potential through ion conductive membrane separators. When using a bipolar membrane (BPM) as the separator, a pH gradient is created by the generation of acid and base via water dissociation at the internal interface of an anion conductive and a cation conductive membrane. BPMED can been used for the capture and concentration of atmospheric CO2, for example when using a liquid alkaline capture sorbent, where the acidification of the capture stream can be used to regenerate pure CO2 while further basification of the remaining effluent regenerates the alkaline capture sorbent to be re-used in the direct air capture process. Current commercial BPMs require high overpotentials to drive water dissociation and can only operate at low to moderate current densities. While considerable work has gone into the development of efficient, electrochemically active BPMs through improved membrane polymer chemistries and high-activity water dissociation catalysts, little work has been done to physically scale up these materials and use them in electrodialysis-driven carbon capture and concentration systems beyond lab scale (i.e., >1 cm2).In this presentation, we will report a scalable BPMED cell that can sense the resistive contributions of the individual membrane components (i.e., the anion exchange and cation exchange membranes, and the water dissociation at the internal BPM interface) with increasing membrane active area from 1 cm2 to 25 cm2. With this BPMED cell, changes in the BPM and water dissociation catalyst compositions and structures are related to electrochemical performance metrics (overpotential and CO2 recovery efficiency) at increasing physical scales. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to reveal resistive contributions to the cell at increasing active area, while the inlet and outlet pH were measured to confirm the overall acidification and basification of the dialysis cell to promote carbon capture and conversion, as well as sorbent regeneration. This study aims to build a bridge between the necessary improvements in the membrane and water dissociation catalyst compositions with industrially relevant energy efficiency and conversion performance, accelerating the development of high performance BPMs.

Understanding Electrochemical and Mechanical Durability of Bipolar Membranes Used in Electrodialysis

Using renewable energy to drive direct carbon capture systems is a powerful way to contribute to net negative emissions. When using liquid alkaline sorbents for CO2 direct air capture, it is critical to reduce the energy demand for CO2 concentration and sorbent regeneration. Electrodialysis is an ideal candidate technology to integrate renewable energy into this process, however, to enable this ion-exchange membrane separators that can operate at high ion flux and low voltage are needed. Bipolar membranes (BPMs), that generate protons and hydroxide ions from the dissociation of water when operated in reverse bias, are the enabling component to generate acid and base in electrodialysis systems. Bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BPMED) uses a BPM to create acidifying and basifying chambers which are well suited to concentrate and release CO2 and concentrate the remaining alkaline effluent to cycle back to the capture process. Current BPM durability, however, sufferers at high current density (ion flux) and physical scale. BPMs have several known degradation mechanisms including chemical breakdown of ion exchange polymers, loss of junction adhesion, or physical breakdown due to shearing force and pressure swings in an electrodialysis cell.To assess the electrochemical and mechanical durability of BPMs under operational conditions, we investigated how fabrication conditions (including preconditioning, hot pressing, and catalyst loading) impact the adhesion of custom made BPMs. T-peel studies were performed ex-situ to quantify adhesive forces of BPMs made of different compositions and prepared under different conditions, and BPMED experiments were performed to assess the electrochemical performance of the corresponding BPMs. The BPMED results show that, while adhesion is necessary to physically maintain the BPM junction, mechanical adhesion alone cannot overcome poor ion and water transport management at the water dissociation junction. The results of this systematic comparison indicate that in order for BPMs to operate at high current densities, high adhesion forces made during fabrication of BPMs will need to be balanced with water dissociation kinetics and ion/water transport through the individual membrane layers.

Numerical Modeling of 3D Printed Structures for Lithium Metal Batteries

The development of lithium metal batteries to enable their use in commercial applications can have a significant impact on the fight against climate change due to the increase in energy density compared to state of art Li-ion batteries. However, technical challenges related to limited cyclability and non-uniformity of Li electroplating need to be addressed. This requires understanding the interplay between nucleation density, solid-electrolyte-interphase (SEI) formation, transport limitations, and unstable growth. 3D printed electrodes are of interest for electrochemical devices for their ability to tailor the electrode shape and structure to minimize system losses through enhanced ion transport and increased surface area for electrochemical reactions. 3D printed structures are constrained by the resolution of the printing method which can limit the feature size of the printed architecture. Numerical modeling of these structures can elucidate the interactions of competing physical phenomena, demonstrate tradeoffs, and estimate critical length scales and design principles that make 3D printed structures outperform traditional planar electrodes. Additionally, simulations can be used to identify failure points, complement experimental results, and deepen the understanding of fundamental questions hindering Li-metal deployment. In this presentation, we will show our recent work using continuum modeling to guide the design and evaluation of 3D printed electrodes for lithium metal batteries.This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344 and was supported by the LLNL-LDRD program under project numbers 22-ERD-043 and 23-SI-002.