SUMMARY Freshly exposed unameliorated spoil and vegetated spoil were analysed for their nitrogen constituents using methods devised for soils. The main components found were non‐exchangeable ammonium (25%), hydrolysable nitrogen (33%) and unidentified non‐hydrolysable nitrogen (62%). Summation of these exceeded 100% because hydrolysis with 6 M HCI extracted much of the non‐exchangeable ammonium. Ammonium in the hydrolysate accounted for over 90% of hydrolysable nitrogen in freshly exposed unameliorated spoil and 70% of hydrolysable nitrogen in vegetated spoil. Correction for this ammonium in the hydrolysate allowed estimates of ‘recent organic’ nitrogen accumulation to be made. These estimates were significantly correlated with spoil mineralizable nitrogen levels. The nature of the nitrogen constituents of colliery spoil and the use of ‘recent organic’ nitrogen estimates in assessing site fertility are discussed.
Even in healthy older adults, chronological aging leads to declines in fitness and functional ability. Regular physical activity may help to attenuate these declines. PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between daily physical activity (PA) and the performance on fitness tests in older adults. METHODS: Twenty-two females (68.4 ± 9.5 yr) and 11 males (61.7 ± 6.7 yr) were recruited from the community. Each participant completed six tests from the Senior Fitness Test (Rikli & Jones, 2001): one trial each of the Chair Stand (CS), Arm Curl (AC), and 6-Minute Walk (6-Min), two trials of the 8-Foot Up-and-Go (8-Ft), and three trials each of the Chair Sit-and-Reach (SR) and Back Scratch (BSC). Following the fitness tests, participants were provided with an accelerometer and instructed to wear it for 14 days without changing their normal daily activity. Accelerometer data were downloaded utilizing company provided software. Differences between sexes were assessed with t-tests. Due to sample size, Pearson correlations were determined for all subjects between accelerometer data (number of daily steps, daily moderate to vigorous activity (min) [MVPA]) and fitness test results. RESULTS: There were significant differences between men and women on the BSC (males: -4.05 ± 6.36 in., females: -0.4783 ± 3.26 in.) and the 6-Min (males: 666.35 ± 108.74 yd., females: 550.70 ± 138.59 yd.) tests. Daily steps were highly correlated (p < 0.01) with MVPA minutes (r =.779) and performance on the CS (r =.519) and 6-Min (r = -.600). MVPA minutes were correlated (p < 0.05) with the 6-Min (r =.490). The 8-Ft was highly negatively correlated (p < 0.01) with daily steps (r = -.600), MVPA (r = -.439), CS (r = -.717), and 6-Min (r = -.877), and correlated (p < 0.05) with SR (r = -.364). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant relationship between level of physical activity, as measured by accelerometry, and numerous components of fitness in older adults. Relationships between mobility related tasks and physical activity level were particularly notable. These findings suggest that individuals who are more physically fit will be able to maintain a more independent lifestyle.
The Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), consisting of timed sit‐ups, push‐ups, and run, is the Army's method for measuring physical performance. The Army uses height and circumference measurements (HCM) to calculate percent body fat (%BF). Study objectives were to: 1) determine relationships between APFT results and %BF and 2) compare accuracy of body fat assessment methods: air‐displacement plethysmography (ADP), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and body mass index (BMI). Subjects were Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets (n=11M, 2F, 21.6±3.5y) from a Midwestern university. At a single visit, %BF was assessed using HCM, BIA, ADP, and BMI. The ROTC director provided APFT results. HCM, ADP, and BIA were strongly correlated (r>0.7, p<0.01). Composite APFT score was not correlated with any body fat assessment method. Push‐up number was negatively correlated with %BF by HCM, ADP, and BIA (r>‐0.7, p=0.001). Run time was positively correlated with %BF by HCM, ADP, and BIA (r>0.6, p<0.05). No correlations were found between %BF by HCM, ADP, or BIA and sit‐up number. BMI was not correlated with any variable. For this young, active population very strong correlations between HCM, ADP, and BIA suggest that HCM is a reasonable tool to estimate %BF of ROTC cadets. As %BF increases, number of push‐ups performed decreases and run time increases. However, the limited sample size may have impeded detection of other relationships between %BF and physical fitness, and did not allow for examination of sex differences.
