Physical activity and sleep quality correlations with anthropometric measurements in young adults.

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study examined correlations between physical activity and anthropometrics as well as sleep quality and anthropometrics. PARTICIPANTS: College students (n = 85) with average age 25.6 ± 5.4 years. METHODS: Participants received full-body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans and completed validated surveys: Habitual Physical Activity questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. RESULTS: Males reported more sports-related physical activity than females (p = 0.041). Physical activity indices and percent body fat were inversely correlated (total ⍴ = -0.320, p < 0.001; sport ß = -0.378, p = 0.003). Participants had poor overall sleep quality (PSQI = 6.19 ± 2.99). The PSQI sleep quality index: disturbance was directly correlated with body mass index (BMI) (ß = 0.328, p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Health interventions on college campuses should promote more physical activity and better quality sleep as these factors were related to improved body anthropometrics and potentially reduced chronic disease risk.

Artificial Light Increases Local Predator Abundance, Predation Rates, and Herbivory.

Human activity is rapidly increasing the radiance and geographic extent of artificial light at night (ALAN) leading to alterations in the development, behavior, and physiological state of many organisms. A limited number of community-scale studies investigating the effects of ALAN have allowed for spatial aggregation through positive phototaxis, the commonly observed phenomenon of arthropod movement toward light. We performed an open field study (without restricted arthropod access) to determine the effects of ALAN on local arthropod community composition, plant traits, and local herbivory and predation rates. We found strong positive phototaxis in 10 orders of arthropods, with increased (159% higher) overall arthropod abundance under ALAN compared to unlit controls. The arthropod community under ALAN was more diverse and contained a higher proportion of predaceous arthropods (15% vs 8%). Predation of immobilized flies occurred 3.6 times faster under ALAN; this effect was not observed during the day. Contrary to expectations, we also observed a 6% increase in herbivory under ALAN. Our results highlight the importance of open experimental field studies in determining community-level effects of ALAN.