Life Sciences Commons^™

Metabolic Foundations Of Exercise-Induced Cardiac Growth., Kyle Fulghum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Regular aerobic exercise promotes physiological cardiac growth, which is an adaptive response thought to enable the heart to meet higher physical demands. Cardiac growth involves coordination of catabolic and anabolic activities to support ATP generation, macromolecule biosynthesis, and myocyte hypertrophy. Although previous studies suggest that exercise-induced reductions in cardiac glycolysis are critical for physiological myocyte hypertrophy, it remains unclear how exercise influences the many interlinked pathways of metabolism that support adaptive remodeling of the heart. In this thesis project, we tested the general hypothesis that aerobic exercise promotes physiological cardiac growth by coordinating myocardial metabolism to promote glucose-supported anabolic pathway …

The Effects Of A 12-Week, Virtual, At-Home Upper Limb Training Program For Stroke Survivors On Falls Self-Efficacy And Physical Functioning, Amanda Tetzlaff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chronic health conditions and sedentary behaviour are major public health concerns among older adults. The relationship between falls and upper limb strength becomes increasingly apparent among stroke survivors. In addition to helping prevent a fall from occurring, the upper limbs play a significant role in the performing activities of daily living and other meaningful tasks. However, fall prevention and stroke research focused on exercise and rehabilitation has primarily focused on lower-limb impairments. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine if a 12-week upper limb, virtual, at-home exercise intervention had an effect on falls self-efficacy and physical functioning on …

Zebrafish As A Model To Understand The Impact Of Inactivity And Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation On Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Elisabeth Kilroy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Skeletal muscle plasticity is imperative for functional adaptation to changing demands in activity. Although a great deal is known about the structural and functional plasticity of healthy skeletal muscle, far less is known about plasticity in diseased muscle. Here, we combined the power of the zebrafish model with the adaptability of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to study the basic mechanisms of plasticity in the zebrafish model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Four NMES paradigms, defined by their frequency, delay, and voltage, were designed to emulate the repetition and load schemes of human resistance training programs. Additionally, two inactivity paradigms were …

Characterization Of The Effect Of Exercise Dose And Integrative Nonpharmacological Therapies In The Treatment Of Chronic Pain, Anna M. Polaski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chronic pain includes debilitating conditions affecting large populations of people throughout the world. These diseases are further complicated by comorbid psychological disorders which make chronic pain conditions difficult to treat. Nonpharmacological treatment options have more recently become an important mainstay of effective therapies and are currently being used to supplement or replace traditional pharmacological treatment methods. Exercise-based therapies in particular are of interest due to their demonstrated success in reducing pain symptoms as well as improving psychological outcomes. Dose is an important factor in being able to effectively prescribe treatments in the context of specific exercise interventions and specific pain …

Comparison Of An Acute Bout Of Exercise To A Sugary Snack On Energy, Mood And Cognitive Performance, Erica Knowles

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Low perceived energy and a decline in cognitive performance throughout the day are common issues, though exercise and food consumption are suggested to improve mood and cognition. The present study compares effects of acute exercise to consuming sugar on mood, energy, and cognitive performance. Subjects underwent blood glucose testing, completed an Abbreviated Profile of Mood States Questionnaire, and Automated Operation Span (OSPAN) and Digit Span tests to measure memory and attention. On two separate days subjects consumed candy or walked on a treadmill for 10 minutes, then measurements were repeated at 30-min, 60-min, and 120-min post. Two-way ANOVA over time …

Acute Exercise And Creativity: Embodied Cognition Approaches, Emily M. Frith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation manuscript is the culmination of three years of research examining several unique, exercise-induced mechanisms underlying creativity. This collection of work addresses historical and current empirical concepts of creativity in a narrative review, providing recommendations for future research. Several reviews follow this introduction, highlighting the proposed effects of exercise on creativity, putative mechanisms for creativity, and the effects of exercise and embodied manipulations on creative behavior. Multiple experiments utilizing moderate-intensity exercise as a theoretical stimulus for higher-order cognitions were conducted to investigate associations between exercise and creativity, which lead to the final dissertation experiment. The dissertation experiment was the …

Impacts On Salmonid Rearing Performance With Use Of Dietary Bioprocessed Plant-Based Protein And Water Velocity, Jill Voorhees

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The inclusion of bioprocessed soybean (Glycine max) meal was evaluated in five experiments using either Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) or Brown Trout (Salmo trutta). In the first experiment, adult Erwin x Arlee strain Rainbow Trout were fed diets formulated so that bioprocessed soybean meal (BSM) replaced 0, 60, or 80% of the dietary fishmeal. There were no significant differences in gain, percent gain, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate, intestinal morphology, relative fin lengths, or organosomatic indices. In the second experiment, juvenile Plymouth strain Brown Trout were fed diets formulated so that BSM replaced 0, 60, 80, or 100% of …

Effect Of Reproductive Efficiency In Regards To Workload On Peripheral Circulations Of Blood Cortisol And Leptin In The Open Mare, Michaelle K. Coker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Effect of Reproductive Efficiency in Regards to Workload on Peripheral Circulations of Blood Cortisol and Leptin in the Open Mare

(December, 2016)

Michaelle Kathleen Coker, B.S., Texas A&M University

Thesis Director: Dr. John Michael Mehaffey

Quarter and Paint horse mares (n= 9) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups after being blocked based by expected conception date. Groups consist of mares on no work (NW), light work (LW), and moderate work (MW). Blood was taken weekly via jugular venipuncture prior to first heat cycle from each mare. Additionally, blood was taken at time of ovulation and then weekly …

Effects Of Acute Exercise On Postprandial Lipemia And Postprandial Glycemia, Stephen Decker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise has been shown to attenuate the rise in triglycerides in during the postprandial period, however the effects of acute bouts of high-intensity exercise on postprandial lipemia and glycemia have not been explored. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of acute high-intensity interval training on postprandial lipemia and postprandial glycemia.

Methods: Ten healthy males participated in a randomized crossover design consisting of one high-intensity exercise session and one sedentary control session, followed by consumption of a mixed meal. Blood triglyceride and glucose concentrations were monitored following the consumption of the meal.

Results: High-intensity …

A High-Content Multiplexed Screening Platform For The Evaluation And Manipulation Of Force And Fatigue Of Adult Derived Skeletal Muscle Myotubes In Defined Serum-Free Medium, Christopher Mcaleer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The overall focus of this project has two parts: First, was to develop a protocol utilizing serum-free media formulations and defined plating and culture techniques to create functional in vitro myotubes derived from adult skeletal muscle satellite cells. The second was to manipulate the inherent muscle parameters such as force output and fatigue of these myotubes by employing exercise regimes or by small molecule application. The importance of serum-free medium use for in vitro cultures is becoming increasingly important in creating functional systems that can be validated for drug testing by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Also, the study …

The Effect Of Wild Blueberry Consumption On The Inflammatory Response, Oxidative Stress And Dna Damage Associated With Exercise, Taylor K. Bloedon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

At all levels of intensity and duration, exercise is known to cause an increase in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). When derivatives of oxygen occur and exist independently with one or more unpaired electrons they are known as “free radicals” (Halliwell and Gutteridge 2007). Since atoms possess electrons that are usually associated in pairs, free radicals have the potential to act negatively in the body. Reactive oxygen species refer to oxygen-centered radicals as well as nonradical but reactive derivatives of oxygen (Halliwell and Gutteridge 2007). When ROS are created in excess, resulting in the disruption of the pro-oxidant/antioxidant …

Exercise Participation During Weight Loss On A High Protein – Low Carbohydrate Diet Plan In Females Aged 15-25 Years, Margaret Mobley-Meulman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is responsible for over 300,000 deaths each year (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Obese adults have an increased risk for serious health conditions including high blood pressure and cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, and certain cancers (National Cancer Institute, 2012). Participation in exercise can help control weight, strengthen muscles and bones, and reduce the incidence of cardiac events, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancers, osteoporotic fractures, gallbladder disease, obesity, depression, anxiety, and delay mortality …

The Influence Of The Initiation Of A Graded Exercise Protocol On Dynamic Postural Stability Following A Concussion, Lauryn Hunter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Current post-concussion assessment tools may lack sensitivity in identifying recovery. Athletes demonstrating decreased postural control may have an increased likelihood of suffering sports-related injury. Exercise has been shown to briefly alter static postural control and the visual contribution to static postural stability deteriorates with moderate intensity exercise. Gait variability, defined as the fluctuation in gait characteristic between steps, is a sensitive measure of postural stability in populations with higher level gait disorders. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a progressive exertional return-to-play program on dynamic postural stability following a concussion. Design: Prospective longitudinal. Setting: …

Effectiveness Of A Training Program Using An Alter-G Treadmill To Improve Physiological And Psychosocial Measures In Female Breast Cancer Survivors, Ciaran Fairman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Breast survivors often experience lower bone mineral density following treatment, and may be at a higher risk for osteoporosis and consequent falls and injuries. This study aimed to build on previous research using lower impact exercise programs by using an anti-gravity (Alter-G^®) treadmill to administer cardiovascular training. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness a physical activity program, including an anti-gravity (Alter-G) treadmill at improving physiological and psychosocial measures in female breast cancer survivors. METHODS: Five female breast cancer survivors were recruited to participate in the study. A 14-week intervention using an AB-AB study …

The Effects Of Chronic Prophylactic Naproxen Sodium On Skeletal Muscle Adaptation To Resistance Exercise In Recreationally-Trained College-Aged Males, Christi Brewer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Resistance exercise causes exercise-induced muscle injury (EIMI), triggering an acute local inflammatory response associated with delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). DOMS is characterized by a predictable discomfort and decreased level of muscle performance and is believed to be the product of both mechanical and inflammatory processes. From the latter perspective, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been investigated for their potential to alleviate DOMS-associated symptoms. Such analgesics exert their effects by blocking the formation of prostaglandins; however, prostaglandins, specifically prostaglandin F 2?, also play an important role in skeletal muscle regeneration. While some have advocated the use of NSAIDs for the relief …

Lifestyle Intervention Program With Calcium Supplementation To Promote Weight Loss And Body Fat Reduction In Overweight Individuals., Candee Meredith Spence

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant difference in weight loss, body fat, waist circumference, or diet quality among participants taking calcium or placebo supplements in a lifestyle intervention program. Three participants ages 52-55 completed the 14 week program. Two participants took 1,000 milligrams calcium while one participant took a placebo. Changes in diet were analyzed by Nutribase IV and self perception. Anthropometrics were analyzed by analysis of variance, alpha level 0.05. There was significant decrease in weight and waist circumference for the calcium group and decrease in bioelectrical impedance for the placebo group; …