Digital Commons Network^™

“Seeing” Beyond The Knees: Inflammation In The Eye As A Result Of Mechanical Stress, Michael Goodman, David Kooyman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

A correlation between Osteoarthritis (OA), affecting over 27 million people in the US [1], and metabolic syndrome (MS), affecting over 340 million people worldwide [2], becomes strikingly important as the search for an effective treatment for OA continues. Increasing evidence has shown that OA is linked to systemic inflammation and MS. With MS comes other substantial comorbidities, including diabetic retinopathy (DR). Ocular inflammation promoted through mechanically induced OA would provide evidence that mechanical stress can be a factor leading to systemic inflammation. Such results would have profound impacts upon the way we view OA as a metabolic disorder, leading to …

Rage Functions During Secondhand Smoke-Induced Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Brent Kimber, Dr. Paul Reynolds

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) is a common respiratory disease among pre-term infants or newborns exposed to harmful toxins during pregnancy or at birth. This leads to several respiratory diseases later in life such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) or asthma. However, research on the effects of cigarette smoke in utero has many gaps. This project focuses on developing a transgenic mouse model that mimics the pulmonary morphologies and characteristics of BPD. This model will then be used for further research and potentially discover new therapeutic methods for BPD. The transgenic mouse was established using a modified genetic scheme whereby the …

Measurement Of Lumbar Multifidus Asymmetry In Amateur Cricket Pace Bowlers Using Real-Time Ultrasound, Matthew Toumazou, Carol A. Flavell, Susan J. Gordon

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(3): 875-885, 2018. Objectives: To determine if lumbar multifidus asymmetry existed between the fifth lumbar (L5) and 1^stsacral (S1) spinal level in a group of amateur cricket pace bowlers and a healthy non-cricketing group of males, and to determine if there were significant differences between groups in lumbar multifidus asymmetry at rest, on contraction, or during activation. Design: A prospective single blinded cross-sectional study. Methods: Forty healthy participants were recruited to two groups: an amateur cricket pace bowling group (n=20) and a non-cricketing group (n=20). Bilateral real-time ultrasound imaging of lumbar multifidus was …

Apoe And Alzheimer’S Disease: Neuroimaging Of Metabolic And Cerebrovascular Dysfunction, Jason A. Brandon, Brandon C. Farmer, Holden C. Williams, Lance A. Johnson

Physiology Faculty Publications

Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) is the strongest genetic risk factor for late onset Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), and is associated with impairments in cerebral metabolism and cerebrovascular function. A substantial body of literature now points to E4 as a driver of multiple impairments seen in AD, including blunted brain insulin signaling, mismanagement of brain cholesterol and fatty acids, reductions in blood brain barrier (BBB) integrity, and decreased cerebral glucose uptake. Various neuroimaging techniques, in particular positron emission topography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have been instrumental in characterizing these metabolic and vascular deficits associated with this important AD risk factor. In …

An "Exercise" In Cardiac Metabolism, Stephen C. Kolwicz Jr.

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Research has demonstrated that the high capacity requirements of the heart are satisfied by a preference for oxidation of fatty acids. However, it is well known that a stressed heart, as in pathological hypertrophy, deviates from its inherent profile and relies heavily on glucose metabolism, primarily achieved by an acceleration in glycolysis. Moreover, it has been suggested that the chronically lipid overloaded heart augments fatty acid oxidation and triglyceride synthesis to an even greater degree and, thus, develops a lipotoxic phenotype. In comparison, classic studies in exercise physiology have provided a basis for the acute metabolic changes that occur during …

Effects Of Very Short-Term Dynamic Constant External Resistance Exercise On Strength And Barbell Velocity In Untrained Individuals, M. Travis Byrd, Haley C. Bergstrom

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(1): 867-874, 2018.This study examined the effect of an upper body dynamic constant external resistance (DCER) exercise (barbell bench press [BP]), using the very short-term training (VST) model on strength and barbell velocity. Ten (5 females, 5 males) subjects (mean ± SD age: 21.4 ± 2.8 yrs; height: 1.75 ± 0.12 m; body mass: 83 ± 8.8 kg) completed two pre-test visits (pre-test 1 and pre-test 2) to serve as the within subjects control, three training visits, and one post-test visit. The subject’s 1 repetition maximum (1RM) for the BP as well as the …

Codon Usage Revisited: Lack Of Correlation Between Codon Usage And The Number Of Trna Genes In Enterobacteria, Joaquín Rojas, Gabriel Castillo, Lorenzo Eugenio Leiva, Sara Elgamal, Omar Orellana, Michael Ibba, Assaf Katz

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

It is widely believed that if a high number of genes are found for any tRNA in a rapidly replicating bacteria, then the cytoplasmic levels of that tRNA will be high and an open reading frame containing a higher frequency of the complementary codon will be translated faster. This idea is based on correlations between the number of tRNA genes, tRNA concentration and the frequency of codon usage observed in a limited number of strains as well as from the fact that artificially changing the number of tRNA genes alters translation efficiency and consequently the amount of properly folded protein …

Effects Of Instability On Core Muscle Activation In A Side Bridge, Erin E. Kishman

Masters Theses

Training the musculature of the core continues to be perceived as an essential component of conditioning and rehabilitation settings (11). A popular way to train the core is with the use of instability devices, such as Swiss ball or suspension trainer. However, there is limited research on the effects of these devices on core muscle activity. The purpose of this study was to examine core muscle activity during side bridge variations with and without instability devices (Floor, Swiss Ball, and TRX) through electromyography (EMG) of the rectus abdominis, external oblique, erector spinae, and latissimus dorsi. 39 participants performed three variations …

Transcriptional Correlates Of Proximal-Distal Identify And Regeneration Timing In Axolotl Limbs, S. Randal Voss, David Murrugarra, Tyler B. Jensen, James R Monaghan

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

Cells within salamander limbs retain memories that inform the correct replacement of amputated tissues at different positions along the length of the arm, with proximal and distal amputations completing regeneration at similar times. We investigated the possibility that positional memory is associated with variation in transcript abundances along the proximal-distal limb axis. Transcripts were deeply sampled from Ambystoma mexicanum limbs at the time they were administered fore arm vs upper arm amputations, and at 19 post-amputation time points. After amputation and prior to regenerative outgrowth, genes typically expressed by differentiated muscle cells declined more rapidly in upper arms while cell …

Biology Of Exosomes And Their Microrna Cargos In Human And Bovine Milk, Amy Lynn Leiferman

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Exosomes are small, cargo-containing vesicles secreted by cells to facilitate intercellular communication. Of exosome cargos, microRNAs are especially interesting because of their involvement in gene regulation. Recently, our lab has shown that exosomes and their microRNA cargo are absorbed through the diet and elicit effects exogenously. Human and animal milk contain exosomes, which may have implications in infant and adult nutrition. There is evidence that bovine milk exosomes enhance growth of murine C2C12 myotube cell cultures, but whether this translates to muscle in vivo is unknown. The USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference is lacking up-to-date information about human …

"Understanding Lgbtq+ Intimate Partner Violence & Challenges In, Dr. Juanita Yates

Dissertations

This research project is a focus on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) within LGBTQ+

community and the challenges associated with seeking family support. IPV is defined as a violent

or aggressive behavior within the home, typically involving the violent abuse of an intimate spouse

or partner. However, IPV can happen on the street, in one’s home or even in a public place. Those

exposed to IPV can be children, men and women. IPV is a prevalent issue in our society (Bright

2008). According to Ristock (2005), violence in LGBTQ+ relationships may be referred to as

partner violence, relationship violence, or LGBTQ+ …

Effects Of Omega-3s And Vitamin E Prophylactic Diets And The Implications Of Lipid Transport In Spinal Cord Injury, Kathia Cordero-Caban

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Traumatic injury to the central nervous system (CNS) presents a devastating problem to our society. Although current interventions are promising, no effective treatments are available. The neural membrane fatty acid composition is markedly altered during the first few days after spinal cord injury (SCI). SCI results in autonomic dysfunction, paralysis, spasticity, and significant chronic neuropathic pain. The trauma leads to significantly increased levels of free radical and oxidative stress that contribute to obstructing tissue healing and recovery. A growing body of evidence shows that administration of hydrophobic molecules such as Vitamin E and long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω3PUFAs) are …

Disruption Of Synchronous Behavior In Pancreatic Islets Via Hub Cells, Janita Patwardhan

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Pacing Of An Untrained 17-Year-Old Teenager In A Marathon Attempt, Beat Knechtle, Celina Knechtle, Thomas Rosemann, Pantelis Nikolaidis

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(6): 856-866, 2018. Although there has been increased scientific interest for physiological responses to endurance running and pacing, limited information exists for adolescents participating in endurance events. We are reporting the case of an untrained 17-year-old female teenager (body mass 50.6 kg, height 167 cm and body mass index 18.1 kg/m²) who intended to run a marathon within 6 hours without preparation. The young woman missed her goal by just 2 km. When the average running speed per hour was analysed, there was a major effect of race hour on running speed (p …

Myonuclear Domain Flexibility Challenges Rigid Assumptions On Satellite Cell Contribution To Skeletal Muscle Fiber Hypertrophy, Kevin A. Murach, Davis A. Englund, Esther E. Dupont-Versteegden, John J. Mccarthy, Charlotte A. Peterson

Center for Muscle Biology Faculty Publications

Satellite cell-mediated myonuclear accretion is thought to be required for skeletal muscle fiber hypertrophy, and even drive hypertrophy by preceding growth. Recent studies in humans and rodents provide evidence that challenge this axiom. Specifically, Type 2 muscle fibers reliably demonstrate a substantial capacity to hypertrophy in the absence of myonuclear accretion, challenging the notion of a tightly regulated myonuclear domain (i.e., area that each myonucleus transcriptionally governs). In fact, a “myonuclear domain ceiling”, or upper limit of transcriptional output per nucleus to support hypertrophy, has yet to be identified. Satellite cells respond to muscle damage, and also play an important …

Transcriptional Profiling Reveals Extraordinary Diversity Among Skeletal Muscle Tissues, Erin E. Terry, Xiping Zhang, Christy Hoffmann, Laura D. Hughes, Scott A. Lewis, Jiajia Li, Matthew J. Wallace, Lance A. Riley, Collin M. Douglas, Miguel A. Gutierrez-Monreal, Nicholas F. Lahens, Ming C. Gong, Francisco H. Andrade, Karyn A. Esser, Michael E. Hughes

Physiology Faculty Publications

Skeletal muscle comprises a family of diverse tissues with highly specialized functions. Many acquired diseases, including HIV and COPD, affect specific muscles while sparing others. Even monogenic muscular dystrophies selectively affect certain muscle groups. These observations suggest that factors intrinsic to muscle tissues influence their resistance to disease. Nevertheless, most studies have not addressed transcriptional diversity among skeletal muscles. Here we use RNAseq to profile mRNA expression in skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscle tissues from mice and rats. Our data set, MuscleDB, reveals extensive transcriptional diversity, with greater than 50% of transcripts differentially expressed among skeletal muscle tissues. We detect …

Identifying A Test To Monitor Weightlifting Performance In Competitive Male And Female Weightlifters, S. Kyle Travis, Jacob R. Goodin, George K. Beckham, Caleb D. Bazyler

ETSU Faculty Works

Monitoring tests are commonly used to assess weightlifter’s preparedness for competition. Although various monitoring tests have been used, it is not clear which test is the strongest indicator of weightlifting performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to (1) determine the relationships between vertical jump, isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) and weightlifting performance; and (2) compare vertical jumps to IMTP as monitoring tests of weightlifting performance in a large cohort of male and female weightlifters. Methods: Fifty-two competitive weightlifters (31 males, 21 females) participated in squat and countermovement jump testing (SJ, CMJ), and IMTP testing performed on force plates. All …

Visualizing Mutation-Specific Differences In The Trafficking-Deficient Phenotype Of Kv11.1 Proteins Linked To Long Qt Syndrome Type 2, Allison R. Hall, Corey L. Anderson, Jennifer L. Smith, Tooraj Mirshahi, Samy-Claude Elayi, Craig T. January, Brian P. Delisle

Physiology Faculty Publications

KCNH2 encodes the Kv11.1 α-subunit that underlies the rapidly activating delayed-rectifier K⁺ current in the heart. Loss-of-function KCNH2 mutations cause long QT syndrome type 2 (LQT2), and most LQT2-linked missense mutations inhibit the trafficking of Kv11.1 channel protein to the cell surface membrane. Several trafficking-deficient LQT2 mutations (e.g., G601S) generate Kv11.1 proteins that are sequestered in a microtubule-dependent quality control (QC) compartment in the transitional endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We tested the hypothesis that the QC mechanisms that regulate LQT2-linked Kv11.1 protein trafficking are mutation-specific. Confocal imaging analyses of HEK293 cells stably expressing the trafficking-deficient LQT2 mutation F805C showed that, …

Trf1 Mutations As A Mechanism For Telomere Length Maintenance In Cancer, Collin Sanderson, Jonathan Alder

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences found on the ends of chromosomes that serve to protect the genes contained within each chromosome. As a cell replicates, its telomeres shorten, eventually triggering cellular senescence or death. This serves as a tumor suppressive mechanism by limiting the proliferation of cells. All cancers must overcome this growth limitation by acquiring mutations that permit telomere elongation. Most cancers achieve this by acquiring activating-mutations in an enzyme known as telomerase. Some cancers do not express telomerase, and maintain their telomeres by other means including a mechanism called “alternative lengthening of telomeres” (ALT). However, there exists a …

Thermoregulatory Dysfunction In Multiple Sclerosis, Dustin R. Allen

Applied Physiology and Wellness Theses and Dissertations

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurological disease of the central nervous system (CNS) affecting an estimated 2.3 million people worldwide. Marked by lesions in the brain and spinal cord, MS leads to conduction abnormalities in the CNS. Evidence suggests ~60% of individuals with MS experience temporary worsening of their symptoms upon exposure to heat. Adding complexity, observational evidence suggests these individuals exhibit reduced thermoregulatory responses in upon increases in core temperature. Consequently, these individuals face a vicious cycle of heat sensitivity and thermoregulatory dysfunction, substantially impacting their quality of life. With this in mind, our lab is dedicated to …

Radical Social Ecology As Deep Pragmatism: A Call To The Abolition Of Systemic Dissonance And The Minimization Of Entropic Chaos, Arielle Brender

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper aims to shed light on the dissonance caused by the superimposition of Dominant Human Systems on Natural Systems. I highlight the synthetic nature of Dominant Human Systems as egoic and linguistic phenomenon manufactured by a mere portion of the human population, which renders them inherently oppressive unto peoples and landscapes whose wisdom were barred from the design process. In pursuing a radical pragmatic approach to mending the simultaneous oppression and destruction of the human being and the earth, I highlight the necessity of minimizing entropic chaos caused by excess energy expenditure, an essential feature of systems that aim …

Effects Of Prior Fasting On Fat Oxidation During Resistance Exercise, Kendall Frawley, Gabrielle Greenwald, Rebecca R. Rogers, John K. Petrella, Mallory R. Marshall

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(2): 827-833, 2018. Prior research has demonstrated that the percentage of fuel utilization contributed by CHO compared to fat rises with an increase in exercise intensity. The role of food intake prior to exercise has been well studied and fasting prior to exercise generally increases reliance on fat as fuel. However, data on the role of fasting prior to resistance exercise is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the effects of one bout of resistance training in a fasted state compared to ingestion of standardized meal on fat and carbohydrate utilization. …

Behavior Of Heart Rate Variability After 10 Repetitions Maximum Load Test For Lower Limbs, Estêvão R. Monteiro, Jefferson S. Novaes, Aline G. Fiuza, Eduardo Portugal, Felipe S. Triani, Leonardo Bigio, Rudson Santos, Alexandre Palma, Victor G. Corrêa Neto

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(6): 834-843, 2018. The purpose of this study was to analyze the acute heart rate variability behavior after 10 repetitions maximum load test for back squat, leg press, leg extension, and leg flexion in normotensive subjects. Eight recreationally trained women (age: 21.8 ± 2.2 yrs; height: 167.6 ± 6.3 cm; weight: 61.6 ± 10.1 kg) performed two 10 repetitions maximum testing days with 48-hours rest between each one. Heart rate variability was measured in baseline and postexercise (15-, 30-, 45-, and 60-minutes) for time and frequency domain. A significant difference was identified in RMSSD_{ms …}

Relative Handgrip Strength As A Simple Tool To Evaluate Impaired Heart Rate Recovery And A Low Chronotropic Index In Obese Older Women, Cristiane Rocha Da Silva, Dahan Da Cunha Nascimento, Ivo Sousa Neto, Ramires Tibana, Samuel Oliveira, Renato Valduga, Nayara Santos, Bruno Saraiva, Jonato Prestes, Jeffrey Willardson, Guilherme Borges Pereira

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(2): 844-855, 2018. The aim of the present study was to compare differences in heart rate response following a treadmill exercise test in elderly obese women categorized into groups based on relative handgrip strength. Eighty-eight obese elderly women who were between the ages of 60 and 87 participated in the study and were categorized and enrolled to one of two groups based on lower (< 1.51 m²) or higher (≥ 1.51 m²) relative handgrip strength, respectively. The heart rate recovery in the first and second minutes following the treadmill exercise test and the chronotropic index were compared between groups. The higher relative handgrip strength group presented a significantly higher peak heart rate during exercise and a quicker heart rate recovery following exercise versus the lower relative handgrip strength group (pp=0.059) toward a significantly greater chronotropic index in the higher versus the lower relative handgrip strength group. In conclusion, elderly women with greater relative handgrip strength also demonstrated a …

Systematic Pan-Cancer Analysis Of Somatic Allele Frequency., Liam Spurr, Muzi Li, Nawaf Alomran, Qianqian Zhang, Paula Restrepo, Mercedeh Movassagh, Chris Trenkov, Nerissa Tunnessen, Tatiyana Apanasovich, Keith A Crandall, Nathan Edwards, Anelia Horvath

Pharmacology and Physiology Faculty Publications

Imbalanced expression of somatic alleles in cancer can suggest functional and selective features, and can therefore indicate possible driving potential of the underlying genetic variants. To explore the correlation between allele frequency of somatic variants and total gene expression of their harboring gene, we used the unique data set of matched tumor and normal RNA and DNA sequencing data of 5523 distinct single nucleotide variants in 381 individuals across 10 cancer types obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We analyzed the allele frequency in the context of the variant and gene functional features and linked it with changes in …

Examining The Potential Role Of Gpr18 And Gpr119 In Learning And Memory, Brandon Anderson, James Kranewitter-Call, Dr. Jeffrey Edwards

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many mental disorders plague our society. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease have greatly impacted many victims and their families. Despite the seriousness and pervasiveness of Alzheimer’s, there is still no effective treatment for it nor the accompanying dementia. GPR18 and GPR119 are G-protein coupled receptors (GPRs) and have been identified in the central nervous system, but their functional role is unknown. Many successful drugs target GPR proteins, so examining these GPRs’ function in the brain could lead to potential targets leading to innovative medical advances.

Memory is dependent on a molecular process called synaptic plasticity. In synaptic plasticity, the strength of …

Effect Of Exercise And Hypoxia On Plasma Telomerase, Charli D. Aguilar

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is the enzyme that adds telomeric sequences to the end of linear chromosomes. Exercise has shown to upregulate acutely leukocyte TERT after just 30 minutes of running on a treadmill at 80% of VO2max (Denham et al., 2016). Hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is also a mediator of TERT in in vitro (Nishi et al., 2004). Moderate acute exposure to hypoxia was associated with substantial increases in plasma TERT in a recent study on rats (Wang et al., 2014). The specific aim of the current study was to identify if acute hypoxia upregulates plasma TERT …

The Impact Of An External Load Of Football Equipment On Dynamic Balance As Assessed By The Modified Star Excursion Balance Test, Thomas J. Denehy, Timothy F. Marshall, Kim Spaccarotella, Walter Andzel

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(4): 797-805, 2018.Ankle sprains are common injuries, especially for football players, and may result in ankle instability, which can limit performance and increase injury risk. Ankle stability return to play criteria is often assessed under loaded conditions, even though previous research suggests loaded conditions affect dynamic balance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate dynamic balance under loaded conditions. A modified Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), incorporating anterior, posterior medial and posterior lateral reach directions under the loaded condition of NCAA Division III football equipment was evaluated. Thirty male collegiate football players completed …

Forward Genetic Screen To Identify Novel Genes Involved In Nhej Dna Repair, Taylor Brown, Dr. Jonathan Alder

Journal of Undergraduate Research

DNA contains all the information a cell needs to grow, divide, differentiate, and survive. It also dictates how and when a cell should die. DNA damage (particularly double strand breaks i.e. DSBs) may lead to cell death and/or disease. To circumvent DNA breaks, cells use various DNA repair mechanisms including non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). My ORCA research project focused on identifying novel genes involved in NHEJ. I did this by performing a forward genetic screen (FGS) that tested every known gene in the genome for involvement in NHEJ.

Disruption Of Neonatal Cardiomyocyte Physiology Following Exposure To Bisphenol-A., Manelle Ramadan, Meredith Sherman, Rafael Jaimes, Ashika Chaluvadi, Luther Swift, Nikki Gillum Posnack

Pharmacology and Physiology Faculty Publications

Bisphenol chemicals are commonly used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics, polyvinyl chloride plastics, resins, and thermal printing applications. Humans are inadvertently exposed to bisphenols through contact with consumer products and/or medical devices. Recent reports have shown a link between bisphenol-a (BPA) exposure and adverse cardiovascular outcomes; although these studies have been limited to adult subjects and models. Since cardiac physiology differs significantly between the developing and adult heart, we aimed to assess the impact of BPA exposure on cardiac function, using a neonatal cardiomyocyte model. Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were monitored to assess cell viability, spontaneous beating rate, beat …