Digital Commons Network^™

The Athletic Gut Microbiota, Alex E. Mohr, Ralf Jäger, Katie C. Carpenter, Chad M. Kerksick, Martin Purpura, Jeremy R. Townsend, Nicholas P. West, Katherine Black, Michael Gleeson, David B. Pyne, Shawn D. Wells, Shawn M. Arent Ph.D., Cscs*D, Fissn, Facsm, Fnak, Richard B. Kreider, Bill I. Campbell, Laurent Bannock, Jonathan Scheiman, Craig J. Wissent, Marco Pane, Douglas S. Kalman, Jamie N. Pugh, Carmen P. Ortega-Santos, Jessica A. Ter Haar, Paul J. Arciero, Jose Antonio

Faculty Publications

The microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract play a significant role in nutrient uptake, vitamin synthesis, energy harvest, inflammatory modulation, and host immune response, collectively contributing to human health. Important factors such as age, birth method, antibiotic use, and diet have been established as formative factors that shape the gut microbiota. Yet, less described is the role that exercise plays, particularly how associated factors and stressors, such as sport/exercise-specific diet, environment, and their interactions, may influence the gut microbiota. In particular, high-level athletes offer remarkable physiology and metabolism (including muscular strength/power, aerobic capacity, energy expenditure, and heat production) compared to sedentary …

Laryngotracheal Stenosis, Kelsey Stuckey

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) is the luminal compromise at the laryngeal, subglottic, or tracheal level (Gelbard et al., 2014). Various etiologies for LTS exist. Endotracheal cuff over-inflation, inappropriately sized endotracheal tubes, and sudden movements of the tube contribute to injury, as well as anatomical differences(Cardillo et al., 2010; Divatia & Bhowmick, 2005; Medina et al., 2009; Miñambres et al., 2009; Nikolovski et al., 2019; Zaghi et al.,2016). The influence of estrogen may contribute to the development of LTS in women during the third through fifth decades Dedo & Catten, 2001; Poetker et al., 2006; Valdez & Shapshay, 2002). The project goal …

Effect Of Ambient Temperature On Recovery Of Surgically Instrumented Sprague-Dawley Rats, Gianna Mangone

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Based on current guidelines for housing rodents after surgical instrumentation, rodents may be housed at temperatures that hinder surgical recovery and cause thermal stress– room temperature (21°C) being one of them. Rodents are often housed at room temperature since this temperature is easy for humans to be caring for them. However, if recovering rodents are thermally stressed, experimental results will be confounded. To address this issue, Sprague-Dawley rats were surgically instrumented with radiotelemtry thermoprobes (Data Sciences, #TA-10F40) to monitor their core temperatures, then housed at one of five temperatures to assess the effect ambient temperature had on multiple aspects of …

Trp Channels In Cardiovascular Disease, Albert Yu

Doctoral Dissertations

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are evolutionarily conserved ion channels that have been implicated in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological responses. As versatile ion channels that are permeable to calcium, the exact nature of these ion channels have been furiously studied since its initial discovery in Drosophila. Many TRP channels are thought to be gated by PIP2, a well-known membrane signaling molecule. Here we show that membrane potential alters PIP2 in such a way to reduce TRPM7 activity, presumably through PIP2 depletion. This novel mechanism of TRPM7 regulation gives us a clearer picture into a complicated protein that …

University Of Dayton Senior Receives Excellence In Undergraduate Research Award, Dave Larsen

College of Arts and Sciences Newsroom

University of Dayton senior Serafino LaGalbo received a Barbara A. Horwitz and John M. Horowitz Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award from the American Physiological Society for investigating the effects of exposing the legs to short bouts of ischemia, or lack of blood flow, on maximal exercise performance.

Molecular Characterization Of A Gene Encoding Insulin-Like Peptide 5 (Ilp5) In Drosophila Virilis, Nikolas R. Likourentzos, Jae H. Park

Pursuit - The Journal of Undergraduate Research at The University of Tennessee

The study of the insulin-like peptides of Drosophila can provide insight of their similarities to mammalian insulin and their potential usage in treating human insulin-related diseases. In this study, we isolated and characterized cDNA encoding insulin-like peptide (ILP) 5 in D. virilis by using RNA purification, reverse transcription, and RACE protocols. Subsequently, various bioinformatic softwares were employed to predict peptide structure. The ILP5 gene (587 base pairs) codes for 121 amino acids that make up prepro-ILP5. After maturation, functional ILP5 is a peptide of two 25 amino acid chains, A- and B-chain, connected by two disulfide bonds. Sequencing genomic DNA …

Effect Of Protein, Fat, And Both Protein And Fat On The Glycemic Response Of A High Glycemic Index Meal, Muhammed Taai

Theses & Dissertations

Research Focus: Elevated blood glucose (BG) levels from a diet high in refined carbohydrates, even in the absence of diabetes, may increase the risk for chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The purpose of this study was to determine if supplementation of a high glycemic load breakfast with protein, fat, or a combination of the two attenuates the glycemic response in non-diabetic subjects.

Research Methods: Thirteen healthy adults, age 24.7±4y, BMI 25.1±4.5 completed four trials, having fasted 8-12h for this randomized, double-blind crossover study.

Fasting BG was measured, then subjects consumed 2 slices of white …

Polynomial And Non-Polynomial Splines With The Fourth Order Of Approximation, I. G. Burova, D. E. Zhilin

Applied Mathematics & Information Sciences

This paper addresses the construction of polynomial and non-polynomial splines of the fourth order of approximation. Smooth non-polynomial splines of the minimal defect are constructed using preliminarily constructed Hermite-type splines. The estimates of the approximations are given and the constants they include are calculated.

Breakfast Boost Study: Defining The Role Of Breakfast Macronutrient Composition On Markers Of Childhood Obesity, Caroline Ganoung

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States, affecting ~19% of children 2-19 years of age. Breakfast is a key component of a healthy diet and can positively impact children’s health. However, there has been a steady decline in breakfast consumption in children over the past 40 years.

Methods: The objective of this study was to determine if breakfast macronutrient composition, protein (PRO)-based breakfast (30 g protein, 31 g carbohydrate, 11.7 g fat) or an isocaloric (360 kcal) carbohydrate (CHO)-based breakfast (13 g protein, 48 g carbohydrate, 11.7 g fat), can influence postprandial appetite and food …

Evaluating The Effects Of Detergent Concentration On The Reendothelialization And Ultrastructure Of Porcine Internal Thoracic Artery Scaffolds, Jesse Bruce Kooistra

Graduate Theses

Cardiovascular disease exerts a consistent force of morbidity and mortality on the global population. This pressure has created a demand for reliable replacement vascular tissues. Current solutions include synthetic grafts and biological transplant options that are associated with a multitude of complications. Therefore, the continued innovation of vascular tissue replacement solutions is warranted. Decellularized vascular tissues have been previously utilized as scaffolds upon which recellularized tissue engineered vascular solutions are constructed. However the interplay between decellularization agent concentration and effective recellularization has not been well documented. Herein we investigate this relationship through a detail oriented research model that both qualifies …

The Impact Of Forces On Knee Ligaments: A Biomechanical Analysis, Hannah Couture

Honors Projects in Science and Technology

Anatomy of the human body is complicated, and it impacts human physiology in every way, shape, and form. The application of physics in mechanical models creates simplified systems to help understand more complex structures. This paper looks at how anatomical research informed the creation of a two-dimensional computational model of the knee joint. The existing research and literature on the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), the lateral collateral ligament (LCL), and the medial collateral ligament (MCL) is quite plentiful. The posterolateral corner (PLC), however is less studied in both anatomical research and its impact on surrounding …

Exploring The Regulation Of The Nuclear Hormone Receptor Nhr-114, Gufran Taha

2020 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

A significant threat in the medical field today is the rise of antibiotic resistance, which challenges physicians and can severely limit patient survival outcomes. Discovering new means of protecting the host against infection are therefore needed. Using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, we previously discovered that we could increase host survival during infection with the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa by simple supplementation with the branched chain amino acid leucine. Using genetics, we found that the nuclear hormone receptor NHR-114 mediated this pro-survival benefit of leucine supplementation. In an effort to understand the mechanism of NHR-114 function, we explored its spatial …

Identification Of Glycation-Susceptible Proteins In Human Plasma Using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, David Smith

2020 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

The Maillard reaction has garnered attention in a wide variety of industries in chemistry, including food science, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. Most recently, the Maillard reaction has become medically relevant, mediating the irreversible addition of sugars to proteins. This non-enzymatic post-translational modification, called glycation, leads to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGE formation steadily increases with age and is known to mediate the pathogenesis of numerous agerelated diseases including cardiovascular, renal, ocular, and neurodegenerative diseases, especially in diabetic or uremic patients. The mechanisms of pathogenesis for these diseases, as well as the full extent of the impact of …

Winter Travel For Cold Weather Novices; Methods For Making Challenging Outdoor Experiences More Inclusive, Anders Fristedt

Capstone Collection

Cold Weather for Winter Novices is a weeklong experiential education trip developed for students, between the ages of 17 and 21, from the Armand Hammer United World College of the American West (UWC-USA), an international boarding school in Montezuma, New Mexico. This trip is an opportunity to examine multicultural perspectives of adventure and wilderness. Specifically, the research question focuses on if the concepts of adventure and wilderness present inherent hurdles for diverse populations.

This program was developed trough a detailed literature review and needs assessment that involved both outdoor education professionals and potential students. The literature review looked at the …

The Athletic Gut Microbiota, Alex E. Mohr, Ralf Jäger, Katie C. Carpenter, Chad M. Kerksick, Martin Purpura, Jeremy R. Townsend, Nicholas P. West, Katherine Black, Michael Gleeson, David B. Pyne, Shawn D. Wells, Shawn M. Arent, Richard B. Kreider, Bill I. Campbell, Laurent Bannock, Jonathan Scheiman, Craig J. Wissent, Marco Pane, Douglas S. Kalman, Jamie N. Pugh, Carmen P. Ortega-Santos, Jessica A. Ter Haar, Paul J. Arciero, Jose Antonio

Faculty Scholarship

The microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract play a significant role in nutrient uptake, vitamin synthesis, energy harvest, inflammatory modulation, and host immune response, collectively contributing to human health. Important factors such as age, birth method, antibiotic use, and diet have been established as formative factors that shape the gut microbiota. Yet, less described is the role that exercise plays, particularly how associated factors and stressors, such as sport/exercise-specific diet, environment, and their interactions, may influence the gut microbiota. In particular, high-level athletes offer remarkable physiology and metabolism (including muscular strength/power, aerobic capacity, energy expenditure, and heat production) compared to sedentary …

Effect Of Maternal Microbiome On Offspring Neurodevelopment: A Review, Zoe Beausoleil

PCOM Capstone Projects

The purpose of this paper is to delve into the maternal influence on the offspring microbiome, and how maternal lifestyle factors and choices; mode of birth, feeding method, stress and the interventions used to alleviate said stress, maternal age, substance use, exercise, and nutrition, alter the microbiome and therefore affect the neurodevelopment of the offspring. The human microbiome is composed of billions of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses that occupy the gut, skin and other areas of the body. Numerous studies have illustrated the importance of the microbiome in healthy human physiologic processes including energy metabolism, gut health, immune function …

On The Advantages Of The Disabled In Space., Samantha R. Timmers

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Since the start of the astronaut program in the 1960s, candidates have had to prove to be in prime physical shape before being granted clearance to fly, whereas those with physical disabilities such as blindness or deafness are automatically disqualified. The stigma that disabled persons are less qualified to succeed in a physically alien environment has persisted, though little research exists in revisiting the difficulties posed by allowing this group into the space program. This paper aims to reconsider the advantages and disadvantages of a disability-friendly space program, to include cost considerations, potential challenges, and the unique benefits posed by …

Cardiomyocyte Morphology Following Severe Spinal Cord Contusion In Rodents., Addison D. Riney

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is typically a traumatic event that impacts a patient's physical, psychological, and social well-being by damaging motor and sensory neurons and altering autonomic function leading to cardiac remodeling ⁽⁴²⁾. Spinal cord injuries are based on a scale of severity, with severe, high-level lesions strongly correlating to the degree of cardiovascular dysfunction. ^(30)(37)(41). The decline in cardiovascular function is prevalent after high thoracic SCI, with patients suffering from daily bouts of orthostatic hypotension (OH) and autonomic dysreflexia (AD), both of which prevent and delay rehabilitation efforts and lessen quality of life after …

The Effects Of Total Body Proton Irradiation On Mouse Myometrium, Lillith Bulawa

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The boundaries of human space exploration continue to expand with new technology and discoveries making it even more important to investigate the effects of space on biological systems. Although humans have explored space in small increments, reproductive studies must be conducted to determine if stable short- or long-term residences for humans can exist in space. This study explored the effects of whole-body proton radiation on uterine smooth muscle known as the myometrium. Two types of mice utilized in this study were C57BL/6 and B6.129S6Cybbtm1Din/J NOX2 knockout mice. C57BL/6 mice are standard laboratory mice that were used to represent the wildtype …

Characterization Of Avidin And Case9 Single Protein Molecules By A Solid-State Nanopore Device, Haopeng Li

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The shape and charge of a protein play significant roles in protein dynamics in the biological system of humans and animals. Characterizing and quantifying the shape and charge of a protein at the single-molecule level remains a challenge. Solid-state nanopores made of silicon nitride (SiNx) have emerged as novel platforms for biosensing such as diagnostics for single-molecule detection and DNA sequencing. SSN detection is based on measuring the variations in ionic conductance as charged biomolecules translocate through nanometer-sized channels driven by an external voltage applied across the membrane. In this paper, we observe the translocation of asymmetric cylindrical structure CRISPR-Cas9 …

Self-Care Domains, Benefits Of Self-Care In Graduate-Level Training Programs, And Ways To Incorporate Self-Care Education And Practices In Graduate-Level Training Programs, Krystel Segovia

Dissertations

A literature review was conducted to examine the concept of self-care as a proactive means to manage the stressors of life, enhance professional competency, and live a well-balanced lifestyle, particularly for graduate-level psychology students. Different levels of distress, including stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout, were researched and discussed. The various domains of self-care were discussed as were the benefits of engaging in regular self-care practices. Finally, various ways to incorporate self-care into already established graduate-level training programs at universities and practicum training sites were discussed to enhance the training experience as well as mitigate burnout in the novel clinician.

Development And Validation Of A Synchronous Model To Simulate Skeletal Muscle Damage Due To Spaceflight Ionizing Radiation And Microgravity, Lori M. Caldwell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Astronauts traveling or researching in space are subject to a harsh environment that includes high levels of ionizing radiation and microgravity. Ionizing radiation is dangerous to overall health because it causes double-stranded DNA breaks, increases the production of free radicals or reactive oxygen species, and leads to an enhanced risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer over a person’s lifetime. Similarly, microgravity is hazardous to astronaut health because humans require gravity to maintain a healthy heart and muscular and vascular systems.

Both ionizing radiation and microgravity have been studied individually in previous research, but there is a lack of information on …

Technique For The Determination Of Migratable Primary Aromatic Amines Applied To Multi-Laminate Pouches Utilizing Polyurethane Adhesives, Ryan Frederick Ramey

All Theses

Primary aromatic amines (PAAs) are toxic reaction products of polyurethane chemistry and form from unreacted isocyanate monomers and water. This issue is prevalent when considering polyurethane adhesive applications in food contact materials (FCM’s) and food contact articles (FCAs). EU standards state that a maximum migration level of the total sum of PAAs may be no more than 10 ng g-1 of food. Testing for migration and quantification of PAAs has not been standardized, but this research tests a published optimized method for migration testing and quantification of compounds utilizing strong cationic exchange solid phase extraction (SCX-SPE) and ultra-high performance liquid …

Microgravity Emergency Medical Containment System – A Concept Of Architecture, Prototyping, And Usability Research, Keith Elliott Crisman

Theses and Dissertations

Exploration is intrinsic to human nature but is well understood to be accompanied by inherent risks to the explorer. This is particularly evident in the exploration of extreme environments such as long-duration space habitation; in which risk is increased due in particular to the distance from assistance, services, and replenishment of consumables. One of the major risks to extreme environment survivability is lack of access to emergency medical care. This risk is further amplified in the microgravity environment where terrestrial non-life-threatening conditions can become life threatening due to lack of next-level-care capabilities. The question posed within this research asks, ‘What …

Comparing Heatwave Related Mortality Data From Distressed Counties To Affluent Counties In Central And Southern Central Appalachia, Miranda Taylor Pardue

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Appalachian Mountains are home to some of the most culturally rich places in the United States, but also some of the most impoverished communities as well. Several recent events support climate change across the globe. It is expected that Appalachian communities may suffer more dire consequences, as many communities lack strategies to help relieve some of the worst effects of climate change. Heatwaves are predicted to increase in duration and frequency over time, and communities that are not well prepared for the damaging effects of heatwaves can suffer unduly. This study aims to quantify the likelihood that people living …

Equivalency Testing For Two Formulations Of A Clinical Laboratory Control Material, Jessica M. Hart

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Clinical laboratory control materials are an integral part of legally-mandated and highly regulated quality control protocols in all clinical laboratories. These controls ensure accurate performance of the laboratory testing and instrumentation used to produce medical test results for millions of patients. It is of clinical and public health interest to ensure the diagnostic test results which affect so many people are regulated by the most accurate and precise controls.

Formulation changes in control materials have the potential to impact laboratory quality control. In this study, data from two formulations of a hematology control were compared to assess equivalency of the …

Nutritional Supplementation And Skeletal Muscle Health In Chronic Diseases, Hexirui Wu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Prevalence of chronic diseases in the United States keeps increasing in recent years. There are approximately four in ten adults having chronic diseases in America. Chronic diseases include obesity, aging, heart diseases, cancer and many others. This thesis mainly focuses on obesity and aging. Skeletal muscle performance is impaired in obesity and aging conditions. One common reason causing this could be higher fat mass and lower muscle mass. However, there is no study showing what pathways are involved in the imbalance of body composition. Therefore, the first objective of the thesis is to determine gene expression of selected pathways in …

Indices Of Metabolic Stress Following Resistance Exercise, Steven Alexander Long

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was twofold: 1). to evaluate the metabolic responses to varying volume load (VL), manipulated through relative training intensity and 2). to evaluate the metabolic response to training via direct and indirect methods to assess the application potential of non-invasive methods. Recreationally trained male weight lifters (n = 11) volunteered to participate in this resistance training (RT) study. During three separate testing sessions, participants completed three sets of repetitions of the barbell bicep curl exercise to technical failure with short inter-set rest intervals (60 seconds). Participants were randomly assigned one of three training intensities immediately prior …

Effect Of Different Music Genres On Cognitive Task Performance After High Intensity Interval Training, Derek Jones

Longwood Senior Theses

The effects of high intensity exercise on cognitive performance are not fully understood. Music can affect physiological responses to exercise which may also impact cognitive performance. The aim of this study was to determine if music could impact cognitive performance after a bout of high intensity exercise. METHODS: Twelve subjects (n=7 males, n=5 females, 20.3 ± 1.7 y; 72.2 ± 14.9 kg; 1.70 ± 0.09 m) completed the Stroop test after a short (12 min) bout of high intensity interval exercise while listening to either Classical, Rock, or No Music. Subjects completed the Brunel Music Rating Inventory after listening to …

Speculative Fashion: A Spacesuit For Life Outside Earth, Lauren Miyoko Furushima

Theses

When Earth is no longer able to house living creatures, humans will need a new environment to inhabit. Space tourism companies are already looking toward building civilizations in outer space. In accordance, humans will need space wear that is able to support their bodies for long periods of time, therefore supporting life outside of Earth. NASA’s white spacesuits protect astronauts but are hard to move in and costly to manufacture. As designers, it is vital to envision different solutions for spacesuits because it will soon become our normal clothing. The importance of designing for future space travel for everyone may …