Physiology Commons^™

The Impacts Of Physical (In)Activity On Endothelial Function, Joel Ernest Harden

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Exercise and physical activity are known to have beneficial effects on endothelial function and vascular health. Sedentary behavior and physical inactivity, however, have been shown to be related to poor endothelial function and vascular health. The overall purpose of this dissertation was to further elucidate the physiological links between physical (in)activity and vascular health. In the first study, 12 active, young (18-40 yr) individuals and 12 active, old (55+ yr) individuals were recruited. Participants underwent 5 days of removal of exercise, and had their endothelial function assessed via flow-mediated dilation (FMD) during their normal, habitual exercise state (EX) and during …

Radial Glia Integrin Avb8 Regulates Cell Autonomous Microglial Tgfβ1 Signaling That Is Necessary For Microglial Identity, Gabriel Mckinsey, Nicolas Santander, Xiaoming Zhang, Kilian Kleemann, Lauren Tran, Aditya Katewa, Kaylynn Conant, Matthew Barraza, Kian Waddell, Carlos Lizama, Marie La Russa, Ji Hyun Koo, Hyunji Lee, Dibyanti Mukherjee, Helena Paidassi, E. S. Anton, Kamran Atabai, Dean Sheppard, Oleg Butovsky, Thomas Arnold

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Microglial diversity arises from the interplay between inherent genetic programs and external environmental signals. However, the mechanisms by which these processes develop and interact within the growing brain are not yet fully understood. Here, we show that radial glia-expressed integrin beta 8 (ITGB8) activates microglia-expressed TGFβ1 to drive microglial development. Domain-restricted deletion of Itgb8 in these progenitors results in regionally restricted and developmentally arrested microglia that persist into adulthood. In the absence of autocrine TGFβ1 signaling, microglia adopt a similar phenotype, leading to neuromotor symptoms almost identical to Itgb8 mutant mice. In contrast, microglia lacking the canonical TGFβ signal transducers …

Construct Validity, Test-Retest Reliability, And Inter-Rater Objectivity Of The Swimming Competence Assessment Scale (Scas), Jon Sundan, Håvard Lorås, Monika Haga

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

This study aimed to investigate the construct validity, test-retest reliability, and inter-rater reliability of a newly developed and comprehensive instrument for assessment of children’s swimming competence. The Swimming Competence Assessment Scale (SCAS) consists of six consecutive test items (entry, swim on front, surface dive, float, swim on back and exit) that aligns with the Norwegian curricular standard of swimming competence. The exploratory factor analysis retained a unidimensional model, supporting one underlaying statistical dimension with acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.79). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) between test and retest ranged from .84 to .98, and .97 for the total score. Strong …

"Feel For The Water": What Is It, Really?, Robert Keig Stallman, Kristine De Martelaer

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The phrase, 'feel for the water,' is commonly used. But what does it really mean? The traditional idea of this 'feel' focuses on the sensation of touch and use of the hands to produce propulsion. But what about water resistance? Mastering a feel for how to reduce resistance is equally important as the unique relationship between aquatic propulsion and resistance is of great importance. While being in the water, the effects of gravity and buoyancy also need to be perceived by the learner and taught by the instructor. Reflection on the effects on propulsion-resistance and gravity-buoyancy requires relevant exercises to …

Fighting Instinct: The Brain, Emotions And Decision-Making In The Water, Jill Nash, Sam Hills

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

This conceptual paper explores the complex interplay among the human brain, emotions, and decision-making processes, particularly in aquatic environments. Integrating insights from neuroscience, psychology, and behavioural economics, we investigate how instinctual responses and emotional states influence our decisions during water-related activities. By analysing both biological and psychological factors, the paper aims to illuminate the intricacies of human behaviour in various aquatic settings and highlights significant gaps in the research on emotional decision-making that warrant further investigation. Additionally, the paper suggests interventions, including plausible communication strategies, to mitigate the impact of instinctual responses and improve safety and decision-making efficiency.

Goggles And Water Competence: An Addendum, Marek Rejman, Robert Keig Stallman Ph.D.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

We offer this short addendum to the 2017 article that appeared in IJARE, ‘’From swimming skill to water competence: Towards a more inclusive drowning prevention future’’ (Stallman et al., 2017), as an editorial to argue that the essential water competencies ought to be mastered “without goggles.” The focus is on the potential negative effect of goggle use during beginning swimming instruction along with their likely absence during unintended and unexpected immersions in natural bodies of water that often lead to drowning. Rejman and Stallman (2024) demonstrated the development of dependence on goggles among young adults and described its negative effect …

The Perceived Benefits Of And Barriers To Open-Water Swimming: A Mixed-Methods Examination, David Elliott Ph.D, Mark A. Christie Ph.D

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

This study set out to determine the perceived benefits of, and barriers to, open-water swimming (OWS). Adopting a mixed-methods approach, six hundred and sixty-five open-water swimmers responded to an online survey consisting of the Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale (EBBS) and a series of open-ended questions. Data from the EBBS revealed the strongest perceived benefits to be ‘Psychological Outlook’ and ‘Life Enhancement.’ In terms of barriers, those presented in the EBBS received low ratings with only ‘Physical Exertion’ considered as being somewhat problematic. Content analysis performed on the open-ended responses showed social aspects, mental well-being, and connection to nature as …

Evaluation Of Online Information On The Cold Shock Response To Accidental Immersion In Cold Water, Adam Wilson, Heather Massey, Clare M. Eglin

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Many of the UK open water accidental deaths have been attributed to the initial responses to cold water immersion (CWI) collectively known as the cold shock response (CSR). The aim of this study was to analyse the publicly available internet information on CWI and CSR for accuracy and quality compared to the ‘gold standard’ published, peer-reviewed research. Seventy-eight webpages which provided information in English on unexpected CWI and CSR were evaluated. Webpages were accessible, widely available, and had appropriate readability scores. Webpage accuracy was suboptimal including only presenting on average 10 (range 3-16) CSR components out of 19. Quality of …

The Swahili Version Of The Cd-Risc 10 Resilience Scale: Psychometric Properties And Factors Associated With Resilience Among Healthcare Workers In Tanzania, Kevinson Mwangi, Sabina Odero, Gideon Mbithi, Rachel Odhiambo, Rosemary Stephen, Tumbwene Mwansisya, Eunice Pallangyo, Eunice Ndirangu, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Despite the central role of resilience in promoting mental well-being, little is known about the resilience process among healthcare workers in East Africa, partly due to the lack of adequately standardised and psychometrically sound assessment tools for our context. This study provides the first psychometric evaluation of the Swahili version of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 10 (CD-RISC 10) among nurses/midwives and community health volunteers (CHVs) in Tanzania, potentially informing the accuracy of measuring resilience in this setting. Additionally, we examine factors associated with self-reported resilience as measured by the CD-RISC 10 scale.

Methods We used cross-sectional data on nurses/midwives …

Contraceptive Hormone Influences On The Role Of Primary Reinforcement And Reinforcer-Enhancement In Nicotine Self-Administration, Kathleen Robin Mcnealy

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

Hormonal contraceptives contain a synthetic estrogen (e.g., ethinyl estradiol/EE) and/or a synthetic progestin (e.g., levonorgestrel/LEVO) and can exacerbate nicotine intake. However, whether altered intake reflects changes in nicotine reinforcement or enhancement by nicotine of co-occurring reinforcers is unknown. This reinforcer-enhancement effect is evidenced in rats when nicotine self-administration is increased by the presence of a visual stimulus (VS) reinforcer. This dissertation examined the effects of EE and LEVO on nicotine reinforcement and reinforcer-enhancement in ovary-intact female Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were implanted with a jugular catheter and assigned to receive daily injections of EE (Vehicle, 0.125 [Low], or 0.18 [High] μg/day; …

Overexpression And Biophysical And Functional Characterization Of A Recombinant Fgf21, Phuc Phan, Jason Hoang, Thallapuranam Krishnaswamy Suresh Kumar

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is an endocrine FGF that plays a vital role in regulating essential metabolic pathways. FGF21 increases glucose uptake by cells, promotes fatty acid oxidation, reduces blood glucose levels, and alleviates metabolic diseases. However, detailed studies on its stability and biophysical characteristics have not been reported. Herein, we present the overexpression, biophysical characterization, and metabolic activity of a soluble recombinant FGF21 (rFGF21). The far-UV circular dichroism spectra of rFGF21 show a negative trough at 215 nm, indicating that the protein’s backbone predominantly adopts a β sheet conformation. rFGF21 shows intrinsic tyrosine fluorescence at 305 nm. Thermal …

Critical Evaluation Of Falsehoods In Physiology Using Ai, Jean-Philippe Berteau, Michael Mcgee

Open Educational Resources

The document outlines a structured approach for general health sciences students, including both undergraduates and graduates, to critically evaluate falsehoods in physiology using AI tools. Applicable to biology and other life sciences, the exercises are divided into three parts, each designed to enhance critical thinking and evidence-based decision-making. Part 1 focuses on debunking biological myths, such as the idea that muscle turns into fat if you stop exercising, by generating and refining AI responses. Part 2 involves using AI to gather and verify evidence-based information on health science myths, like homeopathy's efficacy in treating low back pain, emphasizing the importance …

Pulmonopoly: A Game-Based Approach To Teach And Reinforce Basic Concepts Of Pulmonary Medicine To Medical Students, Michael Dong, James Uricheck, Urvashi Vaid

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonopoly is an innovative active-learning medical board game addressses core pulmonary concepts in an engaging, competitive style. The strength of Pulmonopoly lies in its ability to combine ease of setup and play with comprehensive content coverage that comprises a significant proportion of national board examinations, offering a gamification experience that can be readily applied in different settings and modified for learner levels.

METHODS: We created an instructional game, Pulmonopoly, based on pulmonary content delivered to preclinical medical students and required for national board examinations. We invited first-year medical students to participate in 60-minute small-group sessions. Content addressed pulmonary subject …

Using Ai-Generated Scenarios To Enhance Learning Of The Emergency Assessment Process, D Cobble, L Schroeder, J Vaughn, S Ford

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Rigorous accreditation standards require students to demonstrate competency in various clinical proficiencies through clinical practice or simulation-based educational activities. Therefore, simulation has become an integral component of athletic training education, as scenarios can provide realistic and reproducible experiences for all students. To that end, our study had two primary objectives: investigate the ability of artificial intelligence (AI) to generate accurate and realistic athletic training simulation scenarios and evaluate AI's effectiveness in teaching and reinforcing the emergency assessment process through student-created scenarios. Methods: Phase one, AI developed three different scenarios for patients experiencing (1) an ovarian cyst, (2) a hypoglycemic …

Prevalence, Perceptions, And Attitudes Of Accommodation For Students With Disabilities In Athletic Training Education Programs, T J. Babcock, L E. Eberman

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Disability accommodation has been widely researched in healthcare education programs, including medical doctor (MD), doctor of osteopathy (DO), and physical therapy (PT). However, little research has been conducted on classroom and clinical education accommodation in athletic training education. The purpose of this study was to explore these settings and gain an understanding of student experiences with accommodation in athletic training education programs. This project was deemed exempt by Indiana State University’s Institutional Review Board. Methods: A cross-sectional 24-question survey was developed and adapted from prior qualitative research on accommodation in physical therapy education. Emails containing a link to the …

Clinat: In Service To Athletic Training Scholarship, Lindsey Eberman, Matthew J. Rivera

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

To be of service to others means to help others without expecting anything in return. The ClinAT, or Clinical Practice in Athletic Training journal, is an online, open-access outlet for the dissemination of practice-based research in health care, and a donation of time, effort, and energy to the profession of athletic training. In 2018, when Indiana State University created its first issue of ClinAT, we were a faculty of 3 with 5 PhD students supporting the journal, one of whom was wholly dedicated to the effort. As the higher education landscape has changed, and the roles and responsibilities of our …

Barriers To The Implementation Of The Amsterdam 2022 Statement In The Secondary School Setting, L Torres, J L. Baldari, F A. Gardin, A M. Price

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: The Amsterdam 2022 International Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport provides a summary of contemporary best practice recommendations for healthcare providers who are involved in the care of athletes at risk of sport-related concussion (SRC). Given that athletic trainers (ATs) have a professional responsibility to continually educate themselves on topics of great importance to the population that they care for, such as SRC management, it is reasonable to expect them to evolve their concussion management protocols to better align themselves with the recommendations found this statement. The purpose of this study was to identify the barriers associated with the …

Exploring The Vitality Of Athletic Training: Insights Into Professional Identity, Commitment, And Retention, L E. Eberman, M J. Rivera, K E. Games, M J. Drescher, J P. Young, J Clifton-Gaw, K Condrey, H Mccarn, N Mondelli, X Yuan

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: The confluence of fluctuating retention, fewer students entering professional programs, and the profession’s identity crisis (conflict between being a sports profession or a health profession) has created a serious question about the vitality of the athletic profession. However, research on the vitality of the profession has often focused on singular variables influencing professional identity, burnout, and commitment. The purpose of this project was to explore multiple factors influencing the vitality of the profession across professional identity and commitment in athletic training. Methods: We used a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, including surveys and interviews with athletic training students and athletic …

Escape From Diabetes, J E. Jochum, J Carmack, J Toon

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: In the past decade, interprofessional education (IPE) to promote interprofessional collaborative practice has become an integral component of pre-licensure education in the health professions. Research shows that IPE activities involving problem-solving in patient care that requires cooperation and communication among the professions is most effective. An effective activity to meet interprofessional competencies is the use of escape rooms. Escape rooms are team-based games where groups of individuals solve puzzles to accomplish a specific goal, typically in a limited amount of time. There are many benefits to using escape rooms in education, including promoting problem-solving, teamwork, and creativity, improving focus …

Athletic Trainer Compensation Characteristics, J P. Young, K Ef Mair, L E. Eberman

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Athletic trainers (ATs) are integral to healthcare yet face ongoing challenges that affect job satisfaction and retention. Factors such as long work hours, low pay, and work-family conflict contribute to dissatisfaction and a desire to leave the profession. Salary disparities and lack of administrative support are key factors impacting professional fulfillment and career longevity. Identifying how compensation influences job satisfaction is essential for improving retention and advancing the profession. Our study aimed to examine the compensation characteristics of ATs and determine the key factors that predict gross income. Methods: A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted. The survey was validated …

Preceptor Development: Identifying The Best Modality For Building Clinical Educators, G W. Cohen, R M. Lopez, A J. Tritsch

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Preceptor training and development are not standardized within the athletic training profession. The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) requires that Athletic Training Programs provide an ongoing education plan for preceptors to promote a constructive learning environment for students. However, with the rapid expansion of clinical education opportunities outside of institutions' immediate area, programs must identify how to reach all their preceptors and uphold their programmatic expectations for clinical educators. Methods: The investigators conducted a cohort pre-test-post-test design study. A preceptor development program (PDP) was created and grounded in the theory of gamified learning and adult learning …

The Financial Stresses That Affect Athletic Training Students: A Qualitative Investigation, C Kuehner-Boyer, E León Zaragoza

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: A recent survey examining barriers that affect athletic training students found that financial-related barriers created significant stress for students in professional athletic training programs. The need to work while attending a professional athletic training program was the highest reported barrier with 54.82% of respondents indicating that this was a barrier for them during their program. Beyond the overall reporting rate, the need to work while completing a professional athletic training program was indicated by athletic training students to be the barrier that they encountered the most frequently with respondents reporting that this was a stress for them between monthly …

Musculoskeletal Tumors Disguised As Orthopedic Injuries: A Case Report, A Summers

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Background: Musculoskeletal tumors are relatively rare, accounting for only 0.2 to 0.5% of all malignancies across all age groups. More specifically, Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis, a type of musculoskeletal tumor, has an incidence rate of 1.8 cases per one million people in a population. This benign, proliferative disease is a type of tenosynovial giant cell tumor that can affect the soft tissue lining of joints, bursae, and tendon sheaths. These joint-related tumors often present with an insidious onset and non-specific physical exam findings. Therefore, they are often mistaken for other, more common orthopedic injuries, making them difficult to diagnose. Patient Information: …

Enhancing Clinic Efficiency: A Quality Improvement Initiative For Postoperative Patient Care In An Outpatient Orthopedic Physician Practice Setting, D Stepan, T Jp Greffly, R M. Williams

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Following orthopedic surgery, patient post-operative (post-op) visits are deemed global surgical observations where day 00 to day 90 are appointments that cannot be billed. Patients are typically seen 3 times during this global period. Thus, the outpatient clinic needs to have non-billable time slots each day for these patients. The current scheduling model double books patients every 15 minutes, with the physician being the primary provider seeing patients for post-op visits. Therefore, the clinic has demonstrated inefficiencies with scheduling these patients while having sufficient appointments available for billable patients. This quality improvement initiative aimed to decrease post-op patient visits …

Adolescent Femoral Neck Fractures: A Case Study On Initial Surgical Intervention, Avascular Necrosis Development, And Subsequent Total Hip Arthroplasty, K A. Fisher

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Background: The patient sustained a femoral neck fracture at the age of 13 after slipping and falling in his home. He was seen in the Emergency Department the same day and underwent a closed reduction and percutaneous pinning procedure the following morning. Ten weeks after returning to full weightbearing, and 13.5 weeks after his initial fracture, he developed stress fractures of the medial distal femoral and proximal tibial metaphyses. He experienced gradual worsening of hip pain and difficulty with ambulation between 11 to 13 months post-closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP). Avascular necrosis and collapse of the femoral head was …

Modification Of Ergonomics For A World-Class Brass Instrumentalist With A Congenital Limb Difference: Level 3 Case, O G. Newhouse

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Background: A drum and bugle corps is a musical marching organization that consists of approximately 160 brass, percussion, and color guard performers. There are currently twenty-one drum corps organizations at the world-class level that compete. Organizations learn their 8–10-minute show in the late spring and begin traveling the country performing and competing in the early summer until August. Rehearsal days can be up to 10 hours of practice including visual and music. It has been reported that the incidence of upper limb pain is higher in those who have longer practice times, in which is a symptom of overuse. These …

Title: Professional Socialization And Development Of Athletic Training Professional Program Directors, N A. Wilkins, K D. Pagnotta, L Kunkel, S David, A B. Thrasher

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: The role of Program Directors (PD) has vastly expanded over the last decade to meet the evolving demands of athletic training education and higher education. While specific responsibilities such as programmatic planning and accreditation maintenance are directly outlined in accreditation standards, PDs often assume additional institutional and programmatic responsibilities that now include recruitment and retention efforts, mentorship of faculty and students, curriculum design and mapping, and other administrative tasks. Previous research demonstrates athletic training faculty have little formalized training in administrative roles, and Coordinators of Clinical Education (CCEs) desired more support and development for that role. Little research exists …

Strength Assessment Protocol In Pre-Professional Ballet Dancers, Simona Di Nardo, Ivan Mascio

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Purpose: This research project aimed to investigate the effects, particularly regarding the ability to generate force, that could emerge following a ballet class. The purpose of the study was to support the thesis that low levels of fitness and performance in professional and amateur dancers, should be considered a significant gap that needs to be addressed. Larger will be the gap and bigger will be the demand of a dancer to be prepared athletically. While the shorter the gap and more efficient the artistic side of the dance performance will be. As a result, a stronger and healthier body will …

Characteristics Of Athletic Trainers That Are Satisfied And Dissatisfied With Their Compensation, K Ef Mair, J P. Young, L E. Eberman

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Job satisfaction among athletic trainers (ATs), particularly in relation to compensation, is a critical factor influencing retention and career fulfillment. Examining the factors linked to earnings satisfaction may offer insight into how workplace conditions can be improved to better support ATs. The purpose of our study was to investigate the attributes that distinguish ATs content with their compensation from those who are dissatisfied. Methods: We used a cross-sectional, web-based survey to gather AT compensation data, of which 1,887 participants responded to a question regarding their satisfaction with compensation. Respondents were divided into two groups based on their satisfaction with …

The Effects Of A Joint Reduction Trainer On Confidence Levels In Professional Athletic Training Students, T Franklin, S Hacherl

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Dislocations are common injuries managed by athletic trainers, yet athletic training students are unlikely to practice reduction techniques during clinical experiences. Current standards set by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education require accredited programs to prepare students to manage patients with dislocations, including joint reductions. Research indicates the use of simulation techniques, such as joint reduction simulators, in education can fill clinical experience gaps and improve student confidence and skills. Shoulder dislocations make up nearly 50% of dislocations with several reduction techniques identified in the current literature. The use of a joint reduction simulator may provide athletic …