Physiology Commons^™

The Beat Behind The Bark: Investigating The Effects Of Music Tempo On Canine Physiological And Psychological States, Marley Lanier

Poster Presentations

Music is a universal component of human culture that has been demonstrated influencing emotional, cognitive, and physiological responses, specifically heart rate and hormonal responses (Mehr et al., 2019; Trappe, 2012). Recently, this research has expended to explore how music may affect non-human animals, particularly dogs, due to their roles as therapy animals, service animals, and human companions (Lindig et al., 2020; Gee et al., 2021). Being able to understand how music influences canine stress and relaxation hold important applications in environments such as shelters, veterinary clinics, and at home. One important feature of music is tempo, or beats per minute …

Life Line Spring 2026, Jonathan Atwood

Life Line - The Biology Department Newsletter

In This Issue:

Greetings and Farewell: Part Deux; Signs for Trees; Passing of Dr. Mary Gahbauer: a Beloved Friend and Colleague; Dr. Lisa Marr Retires; The Department Welcomes Dr. Ann Feke; Dr. Kevin Svitana Retires; Ms. Donna Rhodeback Retires; Tucker Adds Swan Specimen to Otterbein's Collection; An UnbeLEAFable Year for the Otterbein Chapter of Botanical Society of America; Field Geology Course Visits Death Valley and Beyond; Agar Art: An Unexpected Canvas; Dr. Kevin Svitana Wins the Anderson Award for Outstanding Contribution to Groundwater Research; Introducing Opi: A New Face for Zoo and Conservation Ambassador Work; Michael Hoggarth, Professor Emeritus, Wins …

Muscular Degeneration In Caenorhabditis Elegans By Microplastic And Chemical Exposure Through Locomotion Analysis, Juan Pablo Olvera Rodriguez, Angelica Cue-Leon, David Mares

Posters - 2026

We use Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model organism to investigate the effects of microplastic and chemical exposure on muscle structure and function.

• Microplastics (MP) are pieces of plastic less than 5 μm, and Nanoplastics (NP) are less than 1 μm. Microplastics are man-made pollutants and have been found in the environment and in the food and water sources, including drinks from plastic bottles (Hu, 2020). • Our work relates environmental contamination to potential biological consequences at the muscular level, providing insight into how pollutants may contribute to degenerative damage.

• Polystyrene (PS) MPs alone and combined with …

Contrast Therapy Is Associated With Higher Thermal Comfort For A Similar Acute Inflammatory Response Compared With Sauna Therapy, Rene Barbier, Benjamin Enslow, Jace Nicolet, Louis Hein, Kelvin Wu, Sven Hoekstra

Posters - 2026

Passive heat therapy, through sauna or hot water immersion, can improve cardiometabolic health outcomes. An increasingly popular thermal modality is contrast therapy, during which sauna therapy is interspersed with cold exposure. However, the acute physiological and perceptual responses to contras therapy in  comparison with traditional sauna remains unknown. This study compared the acute inflammatory, physiological, and perceptual responses to contras against heat therapy in predominantly young, healthy individuals

Impact Of Liver-Secreted Small Extracellular Vesicles On Myotube Funcation, Tatiana Barrantes, Ioannis Tsialtas, Qing Zhang, Kevin Koronowski

Posters - 2026

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate intercellular communication by transferring molecular signals between tissues. Liver-derived EVs contribute to metabolic regulation and have been implicated in tissue cross-talk during health and disease. Skeletal muscle is a highly metabolic tissue that depends on mitochondrial respiration for energy production. However, whether liver-secreted EVs influence myotube mitochondrial function remains unclear. Here, we investigate the impact of liver-derived EVs on myotube mitochondrial respiration.

An Investigation In The Physiological Effect Of Microplastic And Chemical Mixtures In The Body Length Of C. Elegans, Gregory Guantos, David M. Mares, Jennifer C. Harr Phd

Posters - 2026

• Microplastics (MP) are pieces of plastic less than 5 micrometers (mm). Microplastics are found in our environment and have even been found in the food humans consume, including in drinks from plastic bottles (Hu 2020).

• Di-butyl Phthalate (DBP) is a chemical known as a plasticizer commonly used in PVC applications, ink, fragrances, and adhesives

• Di-butyl Phthalate has been found to have negative effects on the physiological length of C. elegans (Xiyan 2018)

• Microplastics have similarly been found to decrease the physiological length of C. elegans (Schöpfer 2020)

• The combined effects of MPs and DBP include …

A Rare Case Of A Silent Pheochromocytoma Concomitant With An Incidentally Found Small Bowel Carcinoid Tumor, Michael Salzle, Anna Szafran-Swietlik, Tobias Carling

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Biphasic Calcium Disturbance In Rhabdomyolysis: A Case Report Of Recovery Phase Severe Hypercalcemia, Maham Shahid, Jean C. Ramos-Cardona, Maria Toustsoglou, Gunjan Y. Gandhi

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Full Femur Imaging For Early Detection Of Incomplete Atypical Femur Fractures, Ashley B. Humrickhouse, Donald Eagerton, Anne G. La Rochelle

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Regrowth Of Thyroid Gland After Total Thyroidectomy, Amy Duff, Mikayla Kidd, Donald Eagerton

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

When Covid Unmasks More Than Infection: A Case Of Post-Viral Lada, Mikayla Kidd, Amy Duff, Reggie Skains Iii, Sahana Parthasarathy

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

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)

Life Line Spring 2025, Otterbein Biology And Earth Science Department

Life Line - The Biology Department Newsletter

In this issue:

Greetings and Farewell!; COSI 2024; Ketchup, Culture, and an Unforgettable Conference; Alumna Earns PhD; Tortoises, Butterflies, and Cockroaches, Oh My!; Licking River Roundup 2024; Aquarium Students Explore Coral Restoration in Fiji; The Galapagos Islands: Geology, Ecology, Conservation, and Culture; Dr. Svitana Presents on Otterbein Lake Well Field; Cell Bio Pilots Unique Approach to Learning; Hoggarth to Retire, June 2025; AED is BACK on Campus!; The Greenhouse Gets a Lifeline; Acoustic Rabies Identification (ARID): A Sound-Based Approach to Rabies Testing

Principles Of Biomedical Research, Faina Linkov, Matthew C. Kostek

Open Education Materials

HLT 430/530

CC BY-NC-SA

A Case Of Acromegaly, Zhiwei Zhang, Donald Eagerton

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Science, Physiology, And Nutrition For The Nonscientist, Judi S. Morrill

Open Educational Resources

A wonderful blend of physiology, nutrition, biochemistry, genetics, biology, evolution, chemistry--what we all need to know as informed citizens. A basic knowledge of the life sciences and how our bodies work--to promote our own good health, especially as we're bombarded with misleading advertisements, soundbites, and the like. DNA fingerprinting, calorie requirements, dietary advice, genetic engineering (including gene editing with CRISPR cas9)--all in an easy-to understand book.

Life Line Spring 2024, Otterbein Biology And Earth Science Department

Life Line - The Biology Department Newsletter

In this Issue:

The Department Welcomes Dr. Grooms; Otterbein's New Pollinator/Rain Garden; Alumni Return to Share Research; Svitana Serves on Ohio EPA VAP Rules Review Advisory Committee; Field Geology Students Explore Death Valley and the Grand Canyon; Students Volunteer at Remote Area Medical Clinic; The Mussels of the Stillwater River and Greenville Creek; More Than "Just" a Chickadee; An Enriching Time at the Zoo; Human Reaction Times; Using Computer Models to Inform Real World Control Methods in Street Dogs; Svitana Continues Work with NGWA; DIY Microbial Fuel Cell Challenge; Birds of a Feather...; Students Research Impact of Sunscreens on Corals; …

Occupational Engagement In Recreational Sports For The Deaf And Hard Of Hearing: An Employee Guidebook, Colleen Mcerlean, Mary Ann Smith, Christopher Ebner

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

An employee guidebook to help increase occupational engagement within recreational sports for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing population in the Austin, TX area.

Finger Contracture Relief Sensorized Splint, Katia Campos, Alfonso Gonzalez, Olivia Rojas

Posters - 2024

Hand traumas may result from an accident, a burn, or even something far more common like a jammed finger. Due to the pain, the hand is immobilized and this lack of movement, in addition to the healing processes, can lead to a deformity. The specific deformity addressed in this project is a Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Flexion Contracture, which is when the middle knuckles of the fingers are stuck in a flexed position. Contractions can occur after trauma or certain illnesses. It is the shortening of muscles, tendons, skin, and nearby soft tissues that causes the joints to become very stiff. …

Myofiber Necrosis To Electrical Stimulation-Induced Damage: Influence Of Menstrual Cycle Phase, Collin Deshler, Brandon Pfeifer, Mohadeseh Ahmadi, Werner N. Hunter, Madeline N. Nielsen, Krista S. Shimizu, Robert D. Hyldahl

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2024

• Estrogen plays important roles in women's overall health, including cardiovascular health, metabolism, bone, connective tissue, and skeletal muscle.
• Existing evidence, mostly based on studies with ovariectomized rodents or post-menopausal women suggests that estrogen is essential for normal muscle recovery, growth, and function.
• Evidence indicates that estrogen plays a role in facilitating skeletal muscle regeneration by activating satellite cells.
• There is a lack of research on the impact of estrogen levels on skeletal muscle damage and recovery in premenopausal populations who have fluctuating levels of estrogen throughout their menstrual cycle.
• The purpose of this study was to determine how menstrual cycle …

Valproic Acid Alters Larval Behavior And Neuronal Composition Within The Optic Tectum Of Zebrafish, Bailey J. Calder, Jacquelyne C. Howell, Michael J. Zeyer, Annalie Martin, Sierra C. Dixon, Shane M. Lilya, Jason M. Hansen, Arminda Suli

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2024

The mammalian superior colliculus (SC) and its non-mammalian homolog–the optic tectum (OT)–are midbrain structures that integrate multimodal sensory inputs and guide involuntary movements in response to relevant environmental cues. Recent work has drawn strong connections between the functions of the SC/OT and behavioral deficits observed in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), thus implicating this structure as a possible site affected in ASD. Since fetal exposure to valproic acid (VPA) has been associated with increased prevalence of ASD in humans, and ASD-like phenotypes in animal models, we exposed embryonic zebrafish to VPA to investigate the connection between ASD and OT development. In …

Exploring The Role Of Dopamine And Atp In Microglial Motility, Derek Langford, Jordan Yorgas, Christopher Galbraith, Channing Syme, Brayden Parker, Savannah Evans, Derek Langford, Eliza White, Erin Taylor, Lauren Ford, Hillary Wadsworth

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2024

►Recent studies from our laboratory have identified that dopamine and ATP in the Nucleus Accubmens (NAc) are co-released.

►ATP is a chemoattractant for macrophages in general, and microglia specifically, suggesting that dopamine and ATP corelease may function to alter microglia activity.

►The present work characterizes the effects of microglia activation via lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on dopamine terminal function, and the effects of dopamine and ATP on microglia motility.

Role Of Plasmapheresis: A Tale Of Two Thyroid Storms, Zhiwei Zhang, Sam Joseph, Donald Eagerton

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2024

No abstract provided.

Thyroid Hemiagenesis Associated With Oncocytic Type Follicular Adenoma With Kras Mutation - A Case Report, Sam Joseph, Zhiwei Zhang, Donald Eagerton, Rana Hoda

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2024

No abstract provided.

Utilizing Ai Integrated Neuroimaging Technology To Expand Upon Machine Learning In Positron Emission Tomography Technology With The Aim Of Detecting Amyloid Beta Biomarkers Early In The Onset Of Alzheimer's., Ethan S. Terman

Undergraduate Research Posters

Early intervention in Alzheimer's is vital for treatment. The earlier a professional can detect symptoms and make a diagnosis the earlier a prognosis can be implemented. With the prevalence of data in our day-to-day world combined with Artificial intelligence (AI), utilizing both for machine learning can pave the way for more accurate and efficient detection of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. AI combined with Machine learning (ML) increases diagnostic efficiency and reduces human errors, making it a valuable resource for physicians and clinicians alike. With the increasing amount of data processing and image interpretation required, the ability to use AI …

Carry-Over Effects Of Climate On Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria Citrea) Feather Quality, Alyssa N. Spasic, Dan Albrecht-Mallinger, Lesley Bulluck

Undergraduate Research Posters

Avian species have inspired numerous studies on ornamentation, exploring its role in intra- and intersexual selection as a marker for individual quality. Male birds have been the focus of most of these studies while females, which can also display ornamentation, have been studied less. Coloration achieved through molt, particularly carotenoid-based pigments, requires energy derived from food resources. As climate affects insect abundance, there may be a link between climate conditions during molt and feather quality the following season. We assessed the relationship between temperature and precipitation during molt and female Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) breast and crown feather reflectance metrics …

Silla De Ruedas Para La Práctica Del Rugby, Diana Yaquelin Barrero Malagón, Jonathan Steven Vargas Cañón

Documentos de Trabajo CTeI

El rugby en silla de ruedas, como una opción de promoción de la actividad física para personas con discapacidades físicas, se convierte en un área de investigación de gran interés. Esta disciplina se aborda desde una perspectiva de salud, alentando la prevención de comorbilidades en esta población. Simultáneamente, se considera un enfoque deportivo que requiere estrategias para mejorar el desempeño atlético de los participantes.

En este contexto, esta propuesta se basa en un objetivo a corto plazo, que implica caracterizar el estado inicial de salud y realizar un análisis biomecánico del rendimiento deportivo en esta población. Luego, a largo plazo, …

Pno-Monia, Ayati Lala, Nandana Varma

Human Diseases Graphic Novels

No abstract provided.

Small Cell Lung Cancer, Ramzi Daki '23, Breena Bulthuis, Zander Davidson, Dammy Tabiti, Addie Kobayashi

Human Diseases Graphic Novels

No abstract provided.

Fatty Liver Disease, Ramzi Daki '23, Breena Bulthuis, Zander Davidson, Dammy Tabiti, Adelyn Kobayashi

Human Diseases Graphic Novels

No abstract provided.