Digital Commons Network^™

What Are Active People Made Of? Identifying Key Biological Correlates Of Physical Activity In Nationally Representative Databases, Isaac R. Ramos, Pratik Patil, Ayland C. Letsinger

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Despite widespread awareness of the health benefits of physical activity, more than three-quarters of U.S. adults fail to meet national physical activity guidelines. Biological correlates may contribute to persistent differences in physical activity engagement beyond sociodemographic factors. PURPOSE: To identify biological correlates of physical activity levels in nationally representative U.S. adults. METHODS: Data were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2021-2023 cycle. Physical activity was assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and was expressed as minutes per week of leisure time moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), with vigorous activity weighted by a …

Fat-Free Mass Mediates Sex Differences In Lung Capacity: A Validation And Regression Analysis Of Spirometry Indices In A Hispanic Cohort, Marianna Gamboa, Nicole Cantu, Camila Guadiana, Samantha Martinez, Jose M. Moris

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Accurate assessment of pulmonary function is critical for diagnosing respiratory pathology and monitoring chronic disease. PURPOSE: To evaluate the test-retest reliability of a portable spirometry device and to investigate the anthropometric determinants of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) in a Hispanic adult cohort. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 94 adults (34 males, 60 females; mean Age = 51.9 ± 7.8 yrs). Subjects underwent sequential spirometry testing during two separate visits within a 10-day period. The primary maneuver assessed was FVC, which consisted of three relaxed tidal breaths followed by a maximal inhalation and a subsequent maximal forced exhalation. Participants …

Potential Of Metabolomics As Biomarkers For Cancer Treatment-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction In Adolescents And Young Adults: A Pilot Study, Ethan To, Savannah V. Rauschendorfer, Michael P. Wiggs

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

BACKGROUND: Doxorubicin, an anthracycline chemotherapy, is routinely utilized for cancer treatment in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) and can lead to cardiac dysfunction at high doses. Anthracycline-induced cardiac impairments are associated with fluctuations in lipid and amino acid metabolism. Identification of unique metabolomic signatures may support the use of metabolomic and lipidomic profiling to identify biomarkers of disease risk and development. These signatures may also reveal pathogenetic links between adiposity and cancer treatment-related cardiac dysfunction. PURPOSE: To identify key metabolites associated with cancer treatment-induced cardiac dysfunction in AYAs with cancer. METHODS: 10 AYAs (M = 5, F = 5) treated …

Impact Of Priming Exercise Load In Vascular Occlusion Test Outcomes, Wonjae Lee, Elizabeth G. Knoll, Joshua L. Keller

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Near-infrared spectroscopy combined with a vascular occlusion test (NIRS-VOT) assesses microvascular function by analyzing tissue oxygen saturation (StO₂). StO₂-derived outcomes from the NIRS-VOT have been shown to differ across biological sex and fitness and are interpreted as reflecting differences in muscle oxidative capacity, microvascular function, and endothelial health. These differences may be influenced by the accumulation of metabolic byproducts that modulate local oxygen delivery. Exercise performed before a NIRS-VOT can alter metabolic rate, potentially influencing StO₂ responses. However, it is unclear whether different submaximal priming exercise intensities affect NIRS-VOT outcomes, particularly when the magnitude of …

Do Body Composition And Cardiovascular Fitness Differ By Gender In Firefighters?, Giuliet L. Kibler, Kelly Hines, Michael J. Conner, Lisa C. Colvin, Steven E. Martin, Drew E. Gonzalez

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Firefighters (FF) endure substantial cardiovascular stress during their occupational tasks; yet, males and females differ in cardiovascular fitness (CRF) due to biological factors. The differences in body composition (BC) and CRF among FFs remain unclear. PURPOSE: To compare gender-specific outcomes in body BC and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) of FF. METHODS: BC assessments via BIA and CPET on a cycle ergometer for 509 FF were analyzed from annual clinical testing. Gender was self-reported as follows: female (n = 29), male (n = 476), or other (n = 4). BC metrics, including body fat, lean body mass, skeletal muscle …

Assessing The Influence Of Electrode Placement On Body Composition Measures From Bioimpedance Technologies, Carina M. Velasquez, Christine M. Florez, Christian Rodriguez, Madelin R. Siedler, Matthew T. Stratton, Patrick S. Harty, Ainsley E. Way, Madison H. Sullivan, Grant M. Tinsley

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

A variety of laboratory-based methods have been utilized to assess body composition. However, technical and physiological variations can influence the estimates from these devices. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the within- and between-day reliability of bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) and single-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (SFBIA), with varying electrode placement, for estimates of body fat percentage (BF%), fat-free mass (FFM), and fat mass (FM). METHODS: Eighteen healthy young adults (mean ± SD; age = 25.7 ± 7.5 years; BMI = 22.4 ± 2.3 kg/m²) completed two visits to the laboratory for BIS and SFBIA …

Evaluation Of Bone Turnover Markers And Biochemical Analysis In Developmental Metabolic Bone Diseases In Pediatric Aksaray Malakli Breed Dogs, Nihan Avci, Fehmiye Gumus Ozdil, Basak Boztok Ozgermen

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Pediatric dogs are predisposed to skeletal disorders during growth, with rickets, hypertrophic osteopathy, and nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism being the most common. Rickets, usually caused by vitamin D deficiency, leads to bone softening and deformities, whereas hypertrophic osteopathy involves abnormal calcium salt deposition that impairs mobility. This study investigated developmental orthopedic diseases in Aksaray Malakli dogs, focusing on nutritional factors and biochemical markers. Twenty-two pediatric dogs were examined and divided into two groups. Group I (n=11) showed gait abnormalities and postural deformities, whereas Group II (n=11) included clinically healthy dogs. Clinical, radiographic, and biochemical assessments were performed, including cortical index, parathormone, …

Adalimumab Therapy For Crohn’S Disease And Axial Spondyloarthritis In Latent Tuberculosis: A Bibliometric-Systematic Literature Review, Nyimas Maida Shofa, Nurike Setiyari Mudjari, Rusdiyana Ekawati, Arianti Arianti, Annisa Zahra Mufida, Budi Widodo, Titong Sugihartono

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

The management of Crohn’s disease (CD) using anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy in tuberculosis (TB)-endemic regions poses major clinical challenges due to the risk of latent TB infection reactivation. This bibliometric–systematic literature review synthesised evidence from 17 peer-reviewed studies (2020–2025) evaluating adalimumab administered with concurrent prophylactic antitubercular therapy. Thematic synthesis and bibliometric mapping using VOSviewer demonstrated that adalimumab achieved 60–85% clinical remission in moderate-to-severe CD and axial spondyloarthritis while enhancing mucosal healing. However, 1–3% of patients developed active TB despite appropriate screening and isoniazid prophylaxis, revealing false-negative diagnostics and partial chemoprophylaxis protection. These findings highlight the need for region-specific frameworks integrating …

Advances In Hpv Vaccination In People Living With Hiv: A Review, Megan Mooberry, J Brooks Jackson, Mary B Rysavy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide and is a leading cause of cervical, anal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. This review summarizes the epidemiology of HPV and the immunogenicity, clinical efficacy, and current HPV vaccination recommendations among people living with HIV (PLWH). PLWH experience a disproportionate burden of HPV-related infection and HPV-related malignancies. Although HPV vaccines have been shown to be highly effective, vaccination coverage among PLWH remains suboptimal, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Barriers to vaccination include extended dosing schedules, limited awareness of the vaccine, and misinformation. Evidence indicates HPV vaccines are safe and …

Airway Secretory Cells Contain Both A Perinuclear Golgi Ribbon And Dispersed Golgi Satellites, Oanh N Hoang, Colin E Chan, Joshua M Brenner, Denisse Leza-Rincon, Ana M Jaramillo, Brendan Dolan, Adam W Aziz, Rodolfo A Cardenas, Gerardo J Cardenas, Eduardo D Galvez, Joshua B Hales, Emilia S Nunez-Pena, Boxuan Yang, Reid T Powell, Leoncio Vergara, Harry Karmouty-Quintana, Jesper M Magnusson, Gunnar C Hansson, Roberto Adachi, John D Dickinson, Christopher M Evans, Justin A Courson, Alan R Burns, Michael J Tuvim, Burton F Dickey

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Rationale: Finely tuned production and secretion of the polymeric mucins MUC5AC and MUCB are required for lung health, but knowledge of many details between their translation and their packaging into secretory granules is lacking.

Objective: To analyze the structure and function of the Golgi apparatus, a key site of mucin glycosylation, folding, polymerization and packaging, in airway epithelial secretory cells.

Methods: Lung tissue was obtained from mice stimulated or not with IL-13 to upregulate mucin production, and from normal human lungs. Golgi elements in mouse and human tissue were imaged by high-resolution immunofluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy. Tissue from mice …

Science Denial And Public Policy, Mary Kae Kuenster

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This research project will investigate the influence science denial has on public policy. This topic is extremely relevant in today’s political climate, with many issues being centered around scientific debates. This project focuses on education policies regarding evolution and intelligent design. To accomplish this research, I will examine sites that both advocate for and disagree with the implementation of intelligent design in the classroom, as well as historical and recent legal cases surrounding the topic. By examining these examples, this project aims to highlight how science denial undermines evidence based decision making.

Scrolling For Meaning: How Social Media Influence Young People’S Spirituality And Trust In Scientific Authority, Archna Yadav

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This project examines how social media and secular digital culture influence the spiritual growth, moral values, and trust in science among young people. My claim is that social media acts like a parallel source of authority, shaping ideas about meaning, morality, and truth. Evidence from studies shows that many young people now form personal belief systems by blending religious ideas, secular practices, and even pseudo-scientific claims. The warrant is that online algorithms, influencers, emotional content, and identity-based communities strongly guide what youth believe. As a result, spiritual and moral formation is increasingly shaped by digital platforms rather than traditional institutions.

Religious Beliefs And Organ Donation: Investigating Religious Beliefs And Their Positions On Donation, Alejandra Penaranda

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The worldwide demand for organs is not being met, creating the Organ Crisis. A common belief is that religions are against the practice of donation and transplantation of organs. This presentation will dive deeper into the different religious beliefs of the most populated religions to determine their stances on the issue.The evidence used was religious websites and articles, journals, and news articles. Through this research, the positive opinions that religions have regarding organ donation will come to light, suggesting that something else is to blame when people are choosing against donating their or a loved one’s organs.

Death With Dignity: A Human Right, Crystal Loza

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Take A Ride On This Canoe, Ashley Bruce

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

A Closer Look At The People’S Chemist, Maya Katz

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Filling The Void, Leann Hillegas

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Artist To Blacksmith, Angel De La Torre

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

The Counseling Experiences Of Gifted Adults, Kelli Busbee, Theodore Remley

Adultspan Journal

In this transcendental phenomenological study, we followed the traditions of Moustakas and explored the counseling experiences of adults who had been identified as gifted during their school years and had experienced counseling for issues related to anxiety, depression, perfectionism, or hypersensitivity. We identified the following themes after interviewing participants: (1) growing up gifted; (2) challenges for gifted individuals at the college level; (3) living with anxiety and depression as a gifted adult; (4) medication and tools used by gifted adults; (5) being a perfectionist and dealing with hypersensitivity as a gifted adult; (6) experiences in counseling as a gifted adult; …

Increased Neuronal Activity Restores Circadian Function In Drosophila Models Of C9orf72-Als/Ftd, Sho Inami, Benjamin P. Jenny, Oghenerukevwe Akpoghiran, Sara I. Gallagher, Alexandra K. Strich, Ayako Tonoki, Davide Trotti, Aaron R. Haeusler, Kyunghee Koh

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Circadian rhythm disruptions are common across neurodegenerative diseases, but their link to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) remains unclear. The C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion is the most prevalent genetic cause of ALS/FTD. Here, we used Drosophila models expressing pathogenic arginine-rich dipeptides (PR or GR) or GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeats to investigate circadian deficits in C9orf72-ALS/FTD. We found that circadian rhythmicity and period length were altered in a repeat number-, dosage-, expression pattern-, and age-dependent manner. Additionally, we observed lower levels of the neuropeptide PDF, a key regulator of free-running circadian rhythms, as well as decreased projection complexity and …

Human Microglia In Brain Assembloids Display Region-Specific Diversity And Respond To Hyperexcitable Neurons Carrying, Jiaxiang Wu, Xiaoling Chen, Jingliang Zhang, Kyle Wettschurack, Morgan Robinson, Weihao Li, Yuanrui Zhao, Ye-Eun Yoo, Brody A Deming, Yue Shu, Akila D Abeyaratna, Zhefu Que, Dongshu Du, Matthew Tegtmeyer, Chongli Yuan, William C Skarnes, Zhong-Yin Zhang, Jean-Christophe Rochet, Long-Jun Wu, Yang Yang

Faculty Research 2026

Microglia critically shape neuronal circuit development and function, yet their region-specific properties and roles in distinct circuits of the human brain remain poorly understood. In this study, we generated region-specific brain organoids (cortical, striatal, and midbrain), each integrated with human microglia, to fill this critical gap. Single-cell RNA sequencing uncovered six distinct microglial subtypes exhibiting unique regional signatures, including a subtype highly enriched for the GABA_B receptor gene within striatal organoids. To investigate the contributions of microglia to neural circuitry, we created microglia-incorporated midbrain-striatal assembloids, modeling a core circuit node for many neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism. Using chemogenetics to …

Human Microglia In Brain Assembloids Display Region-Specific Diversity And Respond To Hyperexcitable Neurons Carrying, Jiaxiang Wu, Xiaoling Chen, Jingliang Zhang, Kyle Wettschurack, Morgan Robinson, Weihao Li, Yuanrui Zhao, Ye-Eun Yoo, Brody A Deming, Yue Shu, Akila D Abeyaratna, Zhefu Que, Dongshu Du, Matthew Tegtmeyer, Chongli Yuan, William C Skarnes, Zhong-Yin Zhang, Jean-Christophe Rochet, Long-Jun Wu, Yang Yang

Faculty Research 2026

Microglia critically shape neuronal circuit development and function, yet their region-specific properties and roles in distinct circuits of the human brain remain poorly understood. In this study, we generated region-specific brain organoids (cortical, striatal, and midbrain), each integrated with human microglia, to fill this critical gap. Single-cell RNA sequencing uncovered six distinct microglial subtypes exhibiting unique regional signatures, including a subtype highly enriched for the GABA_B receptor gene within striatal organoids. To investigate the contributions of microglia to neural circuitry, we created microglia-incorporated midbrain-striatal assembloids, modeling a core circuit node for many neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism. Using chemogenetics to …

Identification Of Berbamine Hydrochloride As A Novel Coagulation Factor Vii Inhibitor By Natural Product Library Screening Using Zebrafish As A Model, Jyotheeswaran Panapakam, Jillian Via, Ambarish Kumar, Ritu Adhikary, Edgar M. Elizondo, Jabila Mary, Rajeev Azad, Art Groven, Pubur Jagadeeswaran

Faculty Publications - Biological Sciences

Current antithrombotic drugs cause gastrointestinal and intracranial hemorrhage and interact with dietary components and other medications. Thus, there is a need for alternative antithrombotic drugs that have fewer side effects. We screened 547 natural products (NPs) for lethality and found 321 NPs were non-lethal to zebrafish larvae. Laser-induced venous thrombosis on larvae incubated with 321 NPs identified 76 NPs with prolonged time to occlusion of the vessel (TTO). Out of these, 43 were already identified platelet inhibitors and the remaining 33 NPs were tested using laser-induced arterial, ferric chloride-induced, and phenylhydrazine-induced thrombosis assays. Of the 33 NPs tested, 4 prolonged …

The Ballot Question: Citizen Initiatives, Institutions, And The Policy Process, Ty Rhoads

Dissertations

State-level policymaking remains undertheorized relative to its federal counterpart, particularly in states where institutionalized direct democracy creates a parallel channel for policy change outside the legislature. This dissertation develops a novel theoretical framework for the state policy process by adapting punctuated equilibrium theory to American state politics, integrating it with party cartel theory and the concept of legislative policy monopolies. The central argument is that citizen initiatives and legislative referrals are structurally distinct policy venues whose ideological profiles, policy magnitudes, and electoral dynamics are systematically shaped by the partisan context of the legislature. Using Missouri as a case study spanning …

The Drosophila Him Gene Is Essential For Adult Muscle Function And Muscle Stem Cell Maintenance, Robert Mitchell-Gee, Robert Hoff, Kumar Vishal, Daniel Hancock, Sam Mckitrick, Cristina V. Newnes-Querejeta, Antonio Aguayo, David Liotta, Jennifer A. Waters, Ty Anna L. Lovato, Richard M. Cripps, Michael V. Taylor

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Muscle stem cells (MuSCs), or “satellite cells,” are vital for vertebrate muscle growth, homeostasis, and repair. The discovery of analogous cells in Drosophila opens experimental opportunities in this genetically tractable model. Here, we show that the myogenic inhibitor gene Him, as well as being expressed in the myoblasts that form the flight and jump muscles, is expressed in flight muscle MuSCs. This makes Him only the second marker of these insect adult MuSCs. Furthermore, Him mutants exhibit disrupted jump muscle organization, impaired jumping ability, and a reduced pool of flight muscle myoblasts. In the flight muscles themselves, Him mutants show …

2025issue2content

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

No abstract provided.

Gender Differences In College Students’ Physical Activity Self-Efficacy, Social Comparison Beliefs, And External Frames Of Reference, Ken Murfay, Sarah Pyszczynski, Sarah Collins

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

This study examined whom college-aged individuals believe observing would more likely increase their physical activity self-efficacy (PASE) for a physical skill, whom they are more likely to compare their abilities to within a physical education (PE) class, how often they compare themselves to others in PE, and what students’ PASE scores were. Based on the mean scores for each question, students were more likely to compare themselves to a student than a teacher, friend than a non-friend, and similar or higher skilled peer than a lower skilled peer. To increase students’ confidence for a physical skill, students had higher levels …

Steroid Receptor Coactivators - From Basic Research To Translational Opportunities, Yosef Gilad, Sang Jun Han, David M Lonard

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The concept of nuclear receptor (NR) coregulation was proposed nearly two decades before it was experimentally validated. According to this model, NRs - executors of a vast array of transcriptional programs - do not act independently but are governed by a network of regulatory proteins that either activate or repress their biological function. NRs identify the genes to be regulated. However, coregulators ultimately serve as the true controllers of transcriptional outcomes. They recruit cofactors and coordinate the activity of transcriptional complexes, thereby shaping NR-mediated gene expression beyond NRs' intrinsic functionality. The Steroid Receptor Coactivator (SRC) family is the most extensively …

Human Microglia In Brain Assembloids Display Region-Specific Diversity And Respond To Hyperexcitable Neurons Carrying Scn2a Mutation, Jiaxiang Wu, Xiaoling Chen, Jingliang Zhang, Kyle Wettschurack, Morgan Robinson, Weihao Li, Yuanrui Zhao, Ye-Eun Yoo, Brody A Deming, Yue Shu, Akila D Abeyaratna, Zhefu Que, Dongshu Du, Matthew Tegtmeyer, Chongli Yuan, William C Skarnes, Zhong-Yin Zhang, Jean-Christophe Rochet, Long-Jun Wu, Yang Yang

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Microglia critically shape neuronal circuit development and function, yet their region-specific properties and roles in distinct circuits of the human brain remain poorly understood. In this study, we generated region-specific brain organoids (cortical, striatal, and midbrain), each integrated with human microglia, to fill this critical gap. Single-cell RNA sequencing uncovered six distinct microglial subtypes exhibiting unique regional signatures, including a subtype highly enriched for the GABAB receptor gene within striatal organoids. To investigate the contributions of microglia to neural circuitry, we created microglia-incorporated midbrain-striatal assembloids, modeling a core circuit node for many neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism. Using chemogenetics to activate …

Opportunities And Challenges In Synthetic Biology For Manufacture Of Bulk Chemicals, Xiaolin Shen, Qipeng Yuan

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Traditional chemical manufacturing, reliant on fossil resources, meets material demands but faces challenges such as resource depletion, environmental pollution, and carbon emissions. This underscores the urgent need for a shift towards green and sustainable production methods. Biomanufacturing, which uses renewable resources to produce chemicals, offers a promising pathway for the chemical industry’s green transition. In recent years, biomanufacturing has emerged as a key area of global attention. Through synthetic biology, bulk chemicals like 1,3-propanediol have been successfully produced. Nevertheless, biomanufacturing of bulk chemicals still faces significant challenges, including high costs, low efficiency, and limited scalability. This is particularly true for …