Physiology Commons^™

Metabolic Regulation Of Cardiac Fibroblast Phenotype And Function., Collin Kleis Wells

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cardiac fibroblasts are central effectors of cardiac repair after myocardial infarction (MI). In response to signaling cues, they differentiate to a range of phenotypes with robust capacities to synthesize and secrete extracellular matrix (ECM) and signaling molecules. Although activated fibroblast phenotypes are associated with pronounced changes in metabolism, it remains unclear how the metabolic network upholds the effector functions of fibroblasts in the post-infarcted heart. Here, we identified that critical enzymes in the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) cycle, i.e. pyruvate kinase muscle-2 (PKM2) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase-2 (PCK2), are elevated in the heart after MI and examined their role in regulating post-MI remodeling …

Evaluation Of Physical, Mental, And Mechanical Aspects Of An Extreme Military Training Event: A Continuous Monitoring Approach, Tirthankar Chatterjee, Debojyoti Bhattacharyya, Roshani Meena

Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments

Soldiers receive extensive training at extremes of environments and simulated terrains to improve their battle efficiency. A study was designed to evaluate the actual cost of a military physical efficiency test consisting of several physically engaging activities to quantify physiological, mechanical, and subjective demands. Sixteen Indian soldiers participated in a military training session consisting of events such as a 5-km run, 4-m vertical rope climbing, a 2.75-m jump, a 60-m dash, and a 9-m horizontal rope climbing with 6.5 kg of equipment in a hot dry environment. Their physiological status was monitored continuously. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load …

Role And Electrophysiological Properties Of Sexually Dimorphic Oxytocin Receptor Expressing Neurons In The Anteroventral Periventricular Nucleus Of The Female Mice, Armita Abdollahi Govar

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Oxytocin is a neurohypophyseal hormone that plays a crucial role in regulating mother-infant bonding and maternal behavior. Oxytocin modulates sex-specific parental behaviors by binding to the oxytocin receptor (OXTR)-expressing neurons in the brain. This study investigates the sexually dimorphic OXTR neurons in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) to understand how oxytocin modulates behavior in females. Specifically, we explored the behavioral roles, neural projections, and intrinsic electrophysiological characteristics of these neurons in the female mice. Using immunohistochemistry revealed that the number of OXTR-expressing neurons was enhanced in postpartum females compared with virgin females, suggesting that these neurons are involved in female-specific …

Identification Of Serum Exosome Proteins In Systemic Sclerosis With Interstitial Lung Disease By Aptamer Proteomics, Sonsoles Piera-Velazquez, Simon T. Dillon, Xuesong Gu, Towia A. Libermann, Sergio A. Jimenez

Jefferson Institute of Molecular Medicine Papers and Presentations

OBJECTIVE: A major unmet need for Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) clinical management is the absence of well validated biomarkers for early diagnosis of SSc-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). The objective of this study was to identify proteins contained within serum exosomes that may serve as potential biomarkers to differentiate patients with Diffuse SSc without SSc-ILD from patients with Diffuse SSc with SSc-ILD employing aptamer-based proteomics.

METHODS: Serum exosomes were isolated from two cohorts of patients. The first cohort included 15 patients with Diffuse SSc without SSc-ILD and 14 patients with Diffuse SSc with SSc-ILD and the second cohort included 12 patients …

The Loss Of Opa1 Accelerates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration And Osteoarthritis In Aged Mice, Vedavathi Madhu, Miriam Hernandaz-Meadows, Ashley Coleman, Kimheak Sao, Kameron Inguito, Owen Haslam, Paige Boneski, Hiromi Sesaki, Ruteja Barve, John Collins, Makarand Risbud

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Recent studies have highlighted the importance of mitochondria in NP cells and articular chondrocyte health. Since the understanding of mechanisms governing mitochondrial dynamics in these tissues is lacking, we investigated the role of OPA1, a mitochondrial fusion protein, in their homeostasis. OPA1 knockdown in NP cells altered mitochondrial size and cristae shape and increased the oxygen consumption rate. OPA1 governed the morphology of multiple organelles, including peroxisomes, early endosomes and cis-Golgi and loss resulted in the dysregulation of autophagy. Metabolic profiling and

Advances In Bone And Orthopedics 2025 – 5th Edition, Jean-Philippe Berteau, Laurent Pujo-Menjouet, Hélène Follet, Aurélie Levillain

Publications and Research

This volume brings together selected works from the 2025 Bone and Orthopedics Interdisciplinary Symposium (BONITOS), underscoring our community’s ongoing commitment to advancing research in biomechanics, bone health, and orthopedic science. The symposium unites leading experts from around the world, fostering collaboration and the exchange of ideas across disciplines. Organized in partnership with the French-speaking Society of Biomechanics, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), the University of Lyon, the College of Staten Island of the City University of New York (CUNY), and the American Association of Physical Therapists (APTA) – Brooklyn Staten Island Chapter, BONITOS 2025 represents …

Detecting Physical Activity Using Wearable Sensor Data, Dipok Deb

Data Science and Data Mining

This study focuses on detecting physical activity using wearable sensor data, specifically distinguishing between walking and running. A dataset comprising accelerometer and gyroscope readings is used to train and evaluate various machine learning models, including logistic regression, random forest, k-nearest neighbors, naïve Bayes, and XGBoost. Extensive preprocessing, such as creating lag features and rolling statistics, is performed to enhance temporal data representation. The models are evaluated using metrics like accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. Incorporating lag and rolling features significantly improves model performance, with logistic regression achieving perfect scores across all metrics. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of enhanced …

The Role Of G6pd Variants And 3d Genomic Structure In The Development Of Pulmonary Hypertension, Christina M. Signoretti Ph.D.

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Pulmonary hypertension is an under-recognized global health epidemic which is estimated to affect 1% of the population. It is associated with sustained mean pulmonary artery pressure greater than 20 mmHg, pulmonary artery remodeling, smooth muscle and endothelial cell proliferation and subsequent increased right ventricle hypertrophy due to increased afterload. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is one of the key enzymes in the pentose phosphate pathway and has been previously linked to the development of pulmonary hypertension. G6PD deficiency is the most common human enzymopathy which affects approximately 400 million people worldwide and is a result of agricultural and epidemiological evolution in different …

Mechanisms Of Placental Impairment And The Upregulation Of Fetuin-B During Maternal Undernourishment, Mia Camilliere

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Proper nutrition is crucial during pregnancy to support fetal and placental development. Failure to meet these nutritional needs can result in adverse health outcomes for both mother and baby. Despite its high prevalence in underdeveloped countries, maternal undernourishment is a public health issue worldwide. There are several possible causes of maternal undernourishment, and these can occur alone or in combination, such as poor access to nutrition, hyperemesis gravidarum, and drug use. This condition can adversely affect placental development and function to the extent of placental insufficiency, perturbing the entire pregnancy. The placenta is responsible not only for hormonally and physically …

Ion-Dna Interactions As A Key Determinant Of Uracil Dna Glycosylase Activity., Sharon N Greenwood, Alexis N Dispensa, Matthew Wang, Justin R Bauer, Timothy D Vaden, Zhiwei Liu, Brian P Weiser

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Because of their ubiquitous presence, ions interact with numerous macromolecules in the cell and affect critical biological processes. Here, we discuss how cations including Mg²⁺ alter the enzymatic activity of a DNA glycosylase by tuning its affinity for DNA. The response of uracil DNA glycosylase (UNG2) to Mg²⁺ ions in solution is biphasic and paradoxical, where low concentrations of the ion stimulate the enzyme, but high concentrations inhibit the enzyme. We analyzed this phenomenon by modeling experimental data with a statistical framework that we empirically derived to understand molecular systems that display biphasic behaviors. Parameters from our statistical …

Peripheral Neuroimmune Mechanisms Of Chronic Back Pain, Aleyah Esther Goins

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Chronic back pain (CBP) affects 1 in 10 people worldwide, reducing mobility, productivity, and quality of life. Despite its prevalence, non-addictive treatments remain limited due to an incomplete understanding of chronic pain mechanisms. This dissertation examines peripheral neuroimmune interactions in CBP using a urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)-induced mouse model (uPA-CBP). uPA, a pro-inflammatory serine protease, was injected into the L2/L3 lumbar spinous ligament, inducing prolonged mechanical and cold hypersensitivity. Flow cytometry of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) showed increased CD45+CD11b+ myeloid cells in males and CD45+CD3+CD4+ lymphocytes in females. DRG neurons from male uPA-CBP mice exhibited heightened action potential firing. Pharmacological …

The Influence Of Intrinsic Foot Muscles In Modulating Foot Shape Relative To Substrate And The Efficacy Of Different Strengthening Approaches, Luke R. Lotsis

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Cross-sloped surfaces create an asymmetrical substrate for foot contact, introducing a slip force within the transverse plane and a gravitational pull within the coronal plane that increases the tendency to topple downslope. To maintain stability, the foot must make structural adjustments across the hindfoot, midfoot, forefoot, and hallux. In chapter 1, I investigated how IFMs respond to varying substrate conditions and balance demands, providing insight into their functional role in maintaining stability and adapting foot structure in static and dynamic locomotor tasks. Twenty-four healthy adults participated in a series of dynamic walking trials on flat, cross-sloped and sandy substrates and …

Core Temperature While Swimming In Warm Open Water With And Without A Wetsuit, Katsiaryna Afanasyeva

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Triathlon is a popular sport which attract participants from all over the world. In general, triathlon is a safe sport with risk of death being about 1.74 deaths per 100,000 participants (Harris et al., 2017). The swimming portion of the race can be dangerous, posing particular risks due to open water conditions and the physical demands of the event. This study investigated the effects of wetsuit use on core temperature in warm open-water swimming (27.9–28.3°C). Four experienced triathletes (2 males, 2 females; age 49.50 ± 7.83 years) completed two 700-meter open-water swims at a submaximal pace—once wearing their personal full-sleeve …

Investigating The Influence Of Environmental Stressors To Exopolysaccharide Production In Soil Cyanobacteria: Genomic And Physiological Perspectives, Benjy Sedano-Herrera

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic microbes with essential roles in Earth’s ecosystems. The secretion of long–chain polysaccharides, known as exopolysaccharides (EPS), is a key trait facilitating cyanobacterial adaptation to diverse ecosystems. Genomics studies have shown that aquatic cyanobacteria harbor multiple gene copies encoding EPS export proteins, likely conferring a selective advantage in lakes or oceans. In addition, physiological experiments showed that nutrient limitation in aquatic habitats influences EPS production, affecting cyanobacterial fitness. However, whether terrestrial cyanobacteria also harbor multiple EPS-related genes and how nutrient limitation impacts their EPS production is not well understood.In the first chapter of my thesis, we investigated the …

Welcome To The Journal Of Integrative Physiology, Maurie J. Luetkemeier

The Journal of Integrative Physiology

The Journal of Integrative Physiology is dedicated to the development of you, the student researcher as you learn to publish your scholarly works via the peer review process. We welcome your physiology related research studies that you conduct in conjuction with your faculty mentor.

Chronic Inflammation: The Link Between A High Added Sugar Diet And Disease, Anna Collins

Senior Honors Theses

The modern diet includes many processed foods that contain added sugars, resulting in a significant increase in daily glucose and fructose consumption. Considering this, there is an increased effort to uncover the effects of excess sugar intake on the body’s health and metabolism. Strong evidence supports the connection between a high added sugar diet and the presence of chronic, low-grade inflammation due to cellular distress and metabolic dysfunction. Prolonged inflammatory responses are linked to tissue damage and the development of various metabolic diseases that are prevalent in modern society, such as obesity, fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 …

Mentorship Across A Decade: From Early Career To Mid-Career, Jessica Immonen

The Journal of Integrative Physiology

As a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Integrative Physiology, I was asked to share my reflections on mentoring. The way I functioned as a mentor when I was a junior faculty member was strongly shaped by the mentorship I received through my training years. The way I function as a mentor in my mid-career era has brought pearls from my training mentors but it has become unique to me as a person and a professional.

Biomarkers That Could Explain Parasite-Induced Behavioral Alterations In The Golden Shiner (Notemigonus Crysoleucas) – Posthodiplostomum System, Laura D. Nicolas

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Trophically transmitted parasites require an intermediate host to be consumed and often manipulate host phenotype (i.e., morphology, physiology, and/or behavior) to increase predation risk by definitive hosts. Posthodiplostomum is a trematode with a complex life cycle involving snails as first hosts, fish as second intermediate hosts, and piscivorous birds as definitive hosts. In fish hosts, Posthodiplostomum infection has been linked to increased predation, suggesting suppression of antipredator behaviors. However, the specific physiological pathways remained unexplored and changes in the host’s neural, endocrine, and immune systems could be involved. Thus, I examined whether Posthodiplostomum infection intensity was associated with brain serotonin …

Stress And Glucose Regulation In Adults At Risk For Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Secondary Analysis From A Randomized Controlled Trial, Sophia Lysne, Regina Dispa, Brenna Way, Bea Francene Pilnade, Donya Shahamati, Romina Ballesteros, Christopher Acosta, Keren Morales, Esther Adaji, Ohis Egbaidomeh

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a major public health concern, significantly increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Additionally, prediabetes is a critical precursor, as it elevates the risk of developing both T2DM and CVDs. (2)

Recent literature reveals among individuals with severe perceived stress, there is a higher likelihood of HbA1c% levels meeting the criteria for prediabetes (5.7– 6.4%) as compared to those with lower perceived stress. (3)

Studies show that psychological stress has hyperglycemic effects in individuals with T2DM, suggesting that stress is associated with poorer blood glucose control. (4)

Does Limb Specialization In Track And Field Introduce Asymmetry In Dynamic Stability?, Aaron X. Jones

Master's Theses

Time to stabilization (TTS) represents the time it takes for a person to become still after a hop landing. Lower times suggest greater dynamic stability. Whereas leg dominance (preference) does not seem to have a significant impact on TTS performance in the general healthy populations, limb specialization in sport may introduce asymmetry. This study compares TTS following forward hops in healthy male controls (N = 19) to varsity DIII Track & Field athletes (N = 20). Groups were equal for height, but the athlete group’s average limb length (106.7 ± 5.5 cm) was greater than the control group (101.5 ± …

Glp1 Ra Reverses The Harmful Association Of Body Weight Variability With Cvd Outcomes Across Different Metabolic Profiles, Sarpong Boateng, Yussif Issaka Md, Basile Njei

Posters

This study aimed to investigate the impact of GLP1 RA on this known negative relationship between BMI variability and cardiovascular (CVD) outcomes across different metabolic profiles.

Hypoxia Induced Ribosomal Rna Fragmentation Mediated By Rnase L, Vanessa Kristina Pizutelli, Dimitri G Pestov

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Ischemic injury contributes to a range of global pathologies. Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury (IRI) is a paradoxical phenomenon that involves an initial restriction of blood flow followed by a sudden restoration of perfusion. This type of injury takes place in conditions such as myocardial infarction, acute kidney disease, and ischemic stroke and often leads to cellular death. Additionally, IRI exacerbates post-surgical outcomes and plays a role in graft dysfunction and transplant rejection. Despite efforts to develop therapies targeting known IRI pathways, clinical trials have largely been unsuccessful, underscoring the need for alternative mechanisms and biomarkers associated with IRI-induced apoptosis. Reactive oxygen species …

Implications Of Type Iv Pilus Retraction For Dna Uptake By Acinetobacter Baumannii, Yafan Yu

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) via natural competence allows bacteria to incorporate extracellular DNA (eDNA) into their genomes, facilitating genetic diversity and adaptation. In Acinetobacter species, natural competence depends on DNA binding and uptake mediated by type IV pili (T4P). T4P are dynamic extracellular filaments composed primarily of the major pilin subunit PilA, along with a few minor subunits. T4P drive a range of cellular functions including twitching motility, biofilm formation, and DNA uptake, with some functions dependent on pilus retraction and others not. However, how Acinetobacter T4P bind DNA and how T4P/eDNA interactions impact biofilm formation remain unclear. Here, I …

A Comprehensive Literature Review Of Barriers To Hormone Therapy Utilization: Strategies For Improving Menopause Management In Women Aged 40-60, Suhan Lee

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Menopause is a natural transition marked by the cessation of ovarian activity, often accompanied by vasomotor symptoms (VMS), genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), and psychological changes that significantly impact women’s quality of life. Hormone therapy (HT) has been the primary treatment for managing menopausal symptoms, particularly VMS, providing substantial relief when initiated within 10 years of menopause. Despite its effectiveness, HT usage has declined dramatically over the past two decades primarily due to barriers such as stigma, safety, misinformation, provider hesitancy, financial barriers, and cultural beliefs. This comprehensive literature review explores key factors influencing HT decision-making, including the media’s role …

Different Effects Between Trigeminal Sensory And Vagal Visceral Input On Salivary Gland Blood Flow, Ratna Ramadhani, Toshiya Sato, Hisayoshi Ishii

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the different effects of trigeminal sensory and vagal-visceral inputs on blood flow (BF) in the submandibular gland (SMG). Methods: Ten to eleven-week-old Wistar rats were anesthetized with urethane (1.0 g/kg) and artificially ventilated. The femoral artery was cannulated for systemic arterial blood pressure (SABP) measurement. The cervical sympathetic trunk (CST) on both sides and the cervical vagus nerve (CVN) on the right side were cut before the stimulation of the left abdominal vagus nerve (AVN). The CVN and lingual nerve (LN) were stimulated after cutting the CST and CVN. AVN, …

Lack Of Patient-Centered Care Relative To Evidence-Based Practice In Clinical Diagnosis And Treatment Of Endometriosis In The U.S.: A Review, Piper E. Scoskie

Honors Theses

This scoping review examines the impact of combining Patient-Centered Care (PCC) and Evidence-Based Care (EBC) on clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction in the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis in the United States. In particular, the review aims to (1) examine the body of research from the United States to learn more about the connection between PCC and EBC and their collective impact on patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes in the treatment of endometriosis; (2) identify the gaps in existing research and practice, specifically regarding PCC procedures, varying patient populations, and longitudinal investigations; and (3) provide recommendation for future research and …

The Effects Of Stress On Injury And Sickness Rates Of Middle-Distance And Distance D3 Athletes, Hailey D. Smith Ms.

Student Scholar Showcase

A runner intentionally stresses their body to experience an adaptation, however, issues occur when the body does not have time to recover. Male athletes (n = 14) on the University of Lynchburg’s distance and middle-distance team participated in this study. For 6 weeks, heart rate variability (HRV4training app), resting heart rate, perceived stress, and cortisol levels were assessed as indicators of recovery and stress. It was anticipated that indicators of physical stress such as higher resting heart rates and higher cortisol levels, would correspond with greater perceived stress and higher occurrence of injury and sickness. Cortisol (n = 2, p …

Effects Of Beetroot Juice Supplementation On Power Output During Resistance Exercise In Resistance-Trained Women, Christopher B. Sottile, Sydney N. Brennan, Trevor J. Molnar, Raymond T. Gerardo, Justin M. Foster, Ryan Tran, Michael Egiazarian, Kyle S. Geppert, Abigial F. Ballhagen, Adam Pennell, Rachel Tan

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Dietary nitrate supplementation has been reported to enhance explosive-type movements, but our understanding of the ergogenic potential of nitrate in resistance exercise and women is understudied. PURPOSE: To investigate if dietary nitrate, provided as nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR), improved resistance exercise performance compared to nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (PL) in resistance-trained women. METHODS: Eighteen resistance-trained women were assigned in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design to consume PL (0.10 mmol nitrate) and BR (6 mmol of nitrate) 2.5 h prior to performing barbell back squats and bench press at 55% one-repetition max (1RM), 60%1RM, and 65%1RM. Power and velocity were measured via …

Using A Cadaveric Model Of Lumbar Scoliosis To Determine Optimal Patient Positioning For Reliable Bone Mineral Density Measures Using A Hologic Dexa Scanner, Caleb B. Schuring, Alexander H.K. Montoye

The Journal of Integrative Physiology

Introduction: Osteoporosis and osteopenia affect roughly 10 million and 43 million older adults, respectively, in the United States. The primary way to detect osteoporosis and osteopenia is through a bone mineral density (BMD) scan, as is often done using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). However, previous research shows DEXA to be unreliable when assessing BMD in individuals with lumbar scoliosis. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of spine orientation on the DEXA scanning bed on lumbar BMD measures, using a cadaver spine as a model. Methods: One female cadaver was dissected to the skeletal …

Effects Of Interval Load And Constant Load Cycling On Cortisol And Testosterone Production, Anna Zurlo

ASPIRE 2025

Testosterone is an anabolic-androgenic steroid released from the gonads when exercising. Additionally, cortisol is a catabolic hormone that is also released in response to the stress of exercise. Both hormones have been known to increase significantly following high-intensity exercise as compared to low-intensity exercise. However, more research needs to be done regarding the interval training effect on testosterone and cortisol levels. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the hormonal response of testosterone and cortisol during interval versus constant load cycling. METHODS: Participants aged 19-45 years old will be recruited to participate in the study. Their initial visit …