Physiology Commons^™

A Four Week 30 S Weight Training Intervention Improves 2000 M Rowing Ergometer Performance Of Provincial And National Collegiate Female Rowers, Matthew Lee

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study compared the effects of a 4 week, 30 s weight training program (30SEC), to a low-repetition weight training program (LoRep), on rowing performance and aerobic capacity in preconditioned, provincial and national collegiate female rowers. 30SEC (n=5) performed 5 sets of dumbbell deadlifts (DL) and dumbbell bench pulls (BP), executing a maximum of 18 repetitions in 30 s, three times per week. LoRep (n=5) performed 4-5 sets of 2-6 repetitions of weight training exercises twice per week. Both regimes performed an identical high volume of predominantly aerobic rowing ergometer training. 30SEC improved 1 Minute Test (p2max, peak power output …

The Role Of C-Kit And Insulin Receptor Tyrosine Kinases In Beta Cell Function And Insulin Secretion, Amanda Oakie

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) c-Kit and insulin receptor (IR) initiate similar intracellular signalling pathways in pancreatic beta cells to regulate beta cell proliferation, survival, and insulin secretion. Mice with a c-Kit overexpression specifically in beta cells (c-KitβTg) demonstrated improved beta cell proliferation and insulin secretion compared to control mice, and islets from c-KitβTg mice also demonstrated increased IR expression. The potential interplay between c-Kit and IR and their roles during ageing and metabolic stress are not currently known. This work reports the examination of c-Kit and IR signalling using in vitro and in vivo models to determine their effects …

Is Professional Breath-Hold Diving Associated With Endothelial Dysfunction?, Emilie Woehrle

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Professional breath-hold diving has been linked to acute dangers; however, the long-term impacts on vascular health are unknown. The endothelium releases vasodilator substances and its functionality is an indicator of vascular health. We are testing the hypothesis that chronic exposure to severe hypoxia may alter endothelial function in breath hold divers. Divers and controls completed a flow-mediated dilation (FMD) protocol, where brachial blood flow velocity was measured following blood flow occlusion. Percent FMD was calculated as the primary measure of endothelial function. T-tests assessed the statistical significance of between-group differences. The %FMD were similar between groups (p >0.05); however, divers …

Oleic Acid Attenuates Palmitic Acid-Induced Impairments In Mouse Blastocyst Development, Maisoon Dafalla Yousif

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Palmitic acid (PA) and oleic acid (OA) are the most abundant saturated and monounsaturated non-esterified fatty acids, respectively, in serum. The consequences of PA and OA treatment on preimplantation mouse embryo development were investigated. It was hypothesized that OA treatment from the two-cell stage onwards would attenuate PA-induced reductions in mouse blastocyst development. PA significantly reduced development to the blastocyst stage. Transcript analysis revealed that PA increased ER stress pathway markers activating transcription factor 3 and C/EBP homologous protein transcripts, and XBP1 splicing. Co-culture of PA-treated embryos with OA prevented this PA-induced ER stress and rescued blastocyst development. Cytoplasmic lipid …

Effects Of Life-Long Wheel Running Behavior On Plantar Flexor Contractile Properties, Alexander Nicholas Beechko

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Aging in skeletal muscle is characterized by a loss in muscular performance. This is in part related to the direct loss of muscle mass due to senescence, known as sarcopenia. With age, skeletal muscles lose force production, contractile speed, and power production. The force velocity relationship of muscle is a product of force production and contraction speed, both of which decline with age; however, the mechanisms and trajectory of this decline are not well understood. Exercise has positive effects on muscle, and thus may assist in maintaining performance in old age. However, few long-term studies have been performed to examine …

The Proteomic Response Of Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga Angustirostris) Pups To Physiological Stress During Development, Melissa P. Voisinet

Master's Theses

Background: Northern elephant seals transition from terrestrial nursing pups to pelagic foraging juveniles in a short period of just 8-12 weeks. During the post-weaning period, pups rely solely on the energy reserves gained during nursing for their caloric demands and water supply. The prolonged absence of food after weaning is the first of many fasts for which the seals have evolved adaptations such as decreased urine production and increased blubber reserves. The stressors experienced from learning to dive for the first time are also stressors that they will experience frequently as an adult and for which they have evolved adaptations. …

Stress And Body Composition Of Juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys Temminckii), Brandon Scott Tappmeyer

MSU Graduate Theses

The alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii), is a species of conservation concern that is the subject of multiple head-start and reintroduction efforts across its range. In captive propagation programs, producing offspring that are in optimal physiological condition maximizes the likelihood of success after release. The purpose of my study was to compare stress and body composition between one free-ranging reintroduced population and two captive populations. The two captive populations were both housed in southern Oklahoma, but one group was reared indoors whereas the other inhabited outdoor ponds at a national fish hatchery. I used circulating glucocorticoid (corticosterone) concentrations as an …

Protective Effects Of The Novel Phytonutrient S7 Against Intestinal Tight Junction Disruption: Composition Matters, Erin E. Olson, Alexi L. Zastrow, Daniel R. Sharda

Pence-Boyce STEM Student Scholarship

The prevalence of intestinal inflammatory diseases is increasing, and pharmacologic agents for intervention are currently limited. Preserving epithelial tight junction (TJ) integrity and preventing underlying immune cell activation by intestinal bacteria are key targets for abrogating the perpetual inflammatory cycle that plagues these diseases. Phytonutrients have shown promise for their ability to reduce cellular inflammation, but the extent of their efficacy in an intestinal model of inflammation is not well understood. Here, we hypothesized that S7, a novel phytonutrient derived from extracts rich in curcuminoids and catechins, would reduce immune cell inflammation and preserve TJ integrity in an in vitro …

Mechanics Of Phenotypic Aging Trajectories In C. Elegans And Humans, William Zhang

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Overall, my dissertation integrates longitudinal measurements of physiology to investigate the aging process. In the first half, I examine the surprising and largely unexplained degree of variation in lifespan within even homogeneous populations. I sought to understand how physiological aging differs between long- and short-lived individuals within a population of genetically identical C. elegans reared in a homogeneous environment. Using a novel culture apparatus, I longitudinally monitored aspects of aging physiology across a large population of isolated individuals. Aggregating several measures into an overall estimate of senescence, I find that long- and short-lived individuals start adulthood on an equal physiological …

Role Of Pkcbeta And Oxidant Signaling In Neonatal Pulmonary Hypertension, Joshua R. Sheak

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Chronic hypoxia (CH)-induced vasoconstriction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (pHTN) in infants with chronic cardiorespiratory disorders. Although endothelial dysfunction, reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and oxidative stress contribute to a variety of cardiovascular disorders, their contribution to enhanced vasoconstrictor reactivity in neonatal pHTN is poorly understood. We therefore hypothesized that neonatal CH augments pulmonary vasoconstrictor reactivity by limiting NO-dependent pulmonary vasodilation and by promoting the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Enzymatic sources of ROS in the vasculature include NADPH oxidase isoforms, xanthine oxidase, and uncoupled endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). The mitochondria are also a …

Living On The Edge: Thermophysiology Of The Southern Flying Squirrel At Its Northern Range Margin, Vanessa R. Hensley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Climate change has the potential to upset entire ecological systems, making predictive models of the utmost importance. The incorporation of physiological parameters into predictive models not only bolsters their accuracy but also provides a mechanistic explanation for ecological changes already observed and those yet to come. North American flying squirrels, for example, have already experienced dramatic range shifts northward over recent decades, with climate change being the suspected driver. While other studies have focused on warming winter temperatures, I explored the hypothesis that rising summer temperatures were driving the observed range shifts. Unable to find a reliable population of the …

A Mixed-Methods Approach To Understanding The Relationship Between Mental Toughness And The Effect Of Music On Exercise Performance, Kayla Baker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has investigated the use of music as an ergogenic aid for exercise performance; however, the effect of music on exercise may differ between individuals of varying levels of mental toughness (MT). Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the moderating effect of MT on the effect of listening to music during exercise. Methods: The current study used a counter-balanced design, utilizing a mixed-methods approach. Thirty-one recreationally-active individuals (22.13 ± 2.11 yrs, 1.73 ± .10 m, 75.68 ± 14.67 kg, 42.89 ± 5.31 mL·kg·min-1; 65.5% males) were recruited for this study. Participants completed an initial visit to …

Noninvasive Myographical Assessments Following Unaccustomed Resistance Exercise, Carleigh Boone

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Traditionally, post-exercise muscular alterations have been examined using invasive techniques that lack the ability to single out individual muscle groups. Sonomyography, tensiomyography, and electrical impedance myography allow for noninvasive skeletal muscle assessment. This project aimed to examine changes in muscle contractility and composition that occur in the early stages of recovery following unaccustomed exercise. METHODS: Twenty-one untrained adults (21.9 ± 1.9 y) performed exercise – 10 × 10 maximal eccentric knee extensions – with their nondominant leg. For each repetition, participants moved through 90° range of motion at 90°•s-1 with a passive return to the start position. Each set was …

Comparison Of Post-Activation Potentiation Methods On Power And Sprint Acceleration, Aaron Piper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Post-activation potentiation (PAP) is a stimulus used to enhance performance by performing specific interventions prior to subsequent explosive movements. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different PAP methods on power and sprint acceleration in resistance trained, college-aged men and women. A total of 13 subjects participated in the study. After determining back squat 1 repetition max, subjects returned for testing on separate days to complete one of four interventions (dynamic resistance, weighted plyometric, isometric, or control) in a randomized order. A standardized warmup was given, followed by a baseline countermovement jump (CMJ) and 20-meter sprint. …

A Dedicated Chaperone Mediates The Safe Transfer Of Mitoribosomal Proteins To Their Site Of Assembly, Gabrielle Ashley Hillman

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Theses and Dissertations

Mitochondrial ribosomes are functionally specialized for the synthesis of several essential inner membrane proteins of the respiratory chain. While remarkable progress has recently been made towards understanding the structure of mitoribosomes, the unique pathways and factors that facilitate their biogenesis remain largely unknown. This dissertation defines the physiological role of an evolutionarily conserved yeast protein called Mam33 in mitochondrial ribosome assembly. The biomedical relevance of this finding stems from the fact that mutations or changes in its expression of the human ortholog p32 result in mitochondrial dysfunction. In human patients, bi-allelic mutations cause severe multisystemic defects in mitochondrial energy metabolism, …

Effects Of Rest Position On Ultrasound-Derived Morphological Characteristics Of The Vastus Lateralis And Lower-Body Force Production, Alyssa Varanoske

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound assessment of the lower body typically encompasses 10-15 minutes of supine rest prior to examination because of the potential influence of gravitational fluid shifts on tissue size and composition. However, examination of the vastus lateralis (VL) muscle requires individuals to lay in the lateral recumbent position, and this change in position may influence muscle morphological characteristics and their ability to predict muscle function. PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of rest position on ultrasound-derived morphological characteristics of the VL and to determine whether or not rest position affects the relationships between muscle morphological …

Kinetic And Kinematic Characteristics Of Accentuated Eccentric Loading, John Wagle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current investigation was an examination of the kinetic and kinematic characteristics of the back squat using accentuated eccentric loading (AEL) and cluster set programming strategies. Trained male subjects (age = 26.1 ± 4.1 years, height = 183.5 ± 4.3 cm, body mass = 92.5 ± 10.5 kg, back squat to body mass ratio = 1.8 ± 0.3) volunteered to complete four different load condition sessions involving traditionally loaded straight sets (TL), traditionally loaded cluster sets (TLC), AEL cluster sets (AEC), and AEL straight sets where only the first repetition of each set used eccentric overload (AEL1). The use of …

The Effects Of Salinity On Zootechnical Performance Of Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion Nebulosus) In Recirculating Aquaculture Systems, Eric Gigli

Master's Theses

The spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) is a euryhaline finfish candidate for marine aquaculture in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Aquaculture of this species currently uses salinities of 25 psu or greater making production challenging in areas where high salinity water is not available. This study aimed to document the effects of salinity on zootechnical performance of spotted seatrout embryos, early larvae, and juveniles in recirculating aquaculture systems to assist with the development of protocols for low salinity culture.

Embryos obtained from a volitional spawn at 29 psu were incubated at three salinities (12.5, 18.75, or 25 psu) until …

Apnea Training And Physical Characteristics: Enhancement Of The Dive Response, Apneic Time, And Recovery, Nathanael Stanford

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Human breath-hold diving (free diving) has been gaining popularity as new individuals participate in the sport every year. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) breath-hold tables have been widely implemented as a training modality and prescribe constant submaximal apneic durations with gradually decreasing recovery times to increase hypercapnic resiliency. Previous studies implementing maximal duration apnea training have found enhancements in apneic duration and the mammalian dive reflex (MDR), which is elicited by apnea and augmented with facial immersion. The MDR results in bradycardia and peripheral vasoconstriction to redistribute blood to vital organs and elicit oxygen (O₂) conserving resulting in …

Comparative Thermal Ecology Of Coastal And Inland Pacific Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Oreganus), Hayley Layne Crowell

Master's Theses

Global biodiversity is declining as a direct result of anthropogenic climate change. Ectothermic species have become focal organisms for studying the ecological effects of altered climates due to the clear relationship between environmental temperatures and ectotherms’ basic physiological functions. Historically, examinations of these effects have focused heavily on heliothermic lizards, and most others have tended to focus on single populations or sympatric species within a single community. Addressing the longterm energetic implications of environmental temperature variation will provide valuable insight into the cascading physiological effects that certain populations or species may experience as a result of altered climates.

In this …

Comparative Plasma Proteomics In Muscle Atrophy Induced By Cancer Cachexia And Hindlimb Unloading, Kirsten Rene Dunlap

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Muscle atrophy results from a dysfunction in protein turnover that leads to loss of mass and function and occurs concurrently with multiple pathologies such as cancer and extended bed rest. Atrophy reduces overall quality of life while increasing morbidity and mortality. Currently, efficacious therapeutic interventions to treat and prevent muscle wasting in all its forms are lacking, however if conserved mechanisms can be identified between wasting conditions, this would aid in the development of multipurpose therapeutics to ameliorate this pathology. Purpose: To examine circulating factors present across atrophic pathologies. Methods: 35 male C57BL/6J mice were assigned to hindlimb unloading …

Menstrual Phase Differences In Muscle Deoxygenation, Respiration And Blood Lactate Concentration Do Not Influence Exercise Performance, Jordyn L. Smith

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose was to evaluate muscle deoxygenation (Δ[HHb]), oxygen uptake (VO2), ventilation (VE), and arterialized blood lactate [La-] throughout exhaustive incremental (RAMP) and severe-intensity exercise (SI) during follicular (FOL) and luteal (LUT) menstrual phases. During RAMP, Δ[HHb]/VO2 was 65% lower in LUT below gas exchange threshold (p0.05). During SI,Δ[HHb]/VO2 was 18% lower in LUT during the kinetic phase (p0.05). No FOL/LUT differences in RAMP-performance (FOL: 218 ± 35 W; LUT: 221 ± 29 W) or SI-endurance (FOL: 99 ± 20 s; LUT: 96 ± 15 s) (p>0.05) were found. These data demonstrate that physiological differences between menstrual phases exist, …

Growth Characteristics And Lipid Metabolism Of Cultured Migratory Bird Skeletal Muscle Cells, Kevin G. Young

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Diets rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may alter the muscle metabolism of migratory birds, improving their endurance performance. I established and validated for the first time in vitro muscle models of a migratory songbird (yellow-rumped warbler, Setophaga coronata coronata) and shorebird (sanderling, Calidris alba). To evaluate the role of n-3 PUFA in improving fatty acid metabolism in migratory bird muscle, I measured metabolic outcomes following n-3 PUFA supplementation in these two avian cell types and a murine (Mus musculus, C₂C₁₂) cell line. PUFA supplementation in C₂C₁₂ cells …

Thermal Biology Of Temperate And High-Latitude Arachnids, Susan E. Anthony

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Temperate and high latitude terrestrial ecosystems have high thermal variability, and the ectotherms that inhabit these regions must have thermal tolerances that mirror these temperatures. However, the thermal limits of many high-latitude arachnids are unknown, as well as any underlying mechanisms of seasonal plasticity for any arachnid. The objective of my thesis is to measure the thermal tolerances of temperate, Arctic, and sub-Arctic arachnids, and identify if they have thermal plasticity, either seasonally or following acclimation. I collected the high-latitude pseudoscorpion Wyochernes asiaticus streamside from the Yukon Territory, where besides large thermal variability, they are also inundated with spring flooding. …

Dental Topographic Analysis Of Maxillary And Mandibular Phyllostomid Bat Dentitions: Implications For Dietary Prediction In The Fossil Record, Colin Pellegrom

Masters Theses

Mammalian dental anatomy has evolved in accordance with the physical properties of its diet, and multiple features on each tooth have specific functions related to the breakdown of food during mastication and ingestion. Tooth structure is under tight genetic control and much of the anatomical variation in dentition across species is related to adaptation to a specific dietary regime. This diet-dentition relationship can be exploited to reconstruct mammalian diets from fossil specimens through calculation of dental topographic metrics. To date, most studies of dietary reconstruction using dental topography have focused on mandibular molars; thus, this study seeks to test whether …

Predators Select For Higher Levels Of Brain Cell Proliferation In Trinidadian Killifish, Rivulus Hartii, Joshua Corbo

Senior Theses and Projects

Brain cell proliferation is an important form of brain plasticity that has been sparsely studied in natural populations. Killifish, Rivulus hartii, from the freshwater streams of Trinidad are a remarkable organism for understanding how brain plasticity is influenced by both internal and environmental factors. Through extensive ecological studies in the region, Trinidadian killifish have been used to determine how predation directly effects brain cell proliferation and brain size. In wild populations, waterfalls in the streams block predator movements upstream, thereby creating distinct populations of killifish – i.e., killifish living with abundant predators (high predators, HP) and killifish living with …

Critical Embodied Praxis For Social Justice And Peace Educators: A Story Of Personal Transformation Through Analysis Of My Jewish And Settler Identities, Cara Michelle Silverberg

Capstone Collection

In this paper, I examine definitions of and relationships between violence, oppression, peace, liberation, and embodiment in the context of critical pedagogy in order to construct a theory of critical embodied praxis for social justice and peace educators. Considering the body to be a tangible vessel through which narratives and mechanisms of violence are expressed and maintained, I explore the potential of the body to be a vessel through which liberatory narratives may be generated and shared. After constructing a theory of critical embodied praxis, I illustrate this framework in action through a personal narrative that explores the intersections …

Effects Of A Postural Restoration Focused Intervention On Muscle Activation During Deadlifts, Caleb Richardson

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of implementing two Postural Restoration exercises and relating principles on deadlifts using a hexagonal barbell. Specifically, we aimed to examine the effects of the intervention on muscle activation and the location of the ground reaction force (GRF) center of pressure. Sixteen subjects (age 18-35 yrs.; male (n=14); female (n=2)), with at least 1 year of deadlifting experience, were randomly assigned into a control and intervention group (both n=8). Both groups performed two sets of three repetitions of deadlifts at 50% and at 80% of their estimated one repetition maximum (1-RM). …

Incidental Cardiac Arrhythmia Identification With Consumer Grade Heart Rate Monitors: A Case Study, Neal C. Phifer

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to examine instances of using chest strap type heart rate monitor (HRM) data as a means of identifying otherwise asymptomatic individuals with possible cardiac arrhythmias as examined across four division one collegiate sports teams. METHODS: Heart rate activity was tracked across an entire season of four different division one collegiate teams (men’s basketball, women’s basketball, women’s soccer and women’s volleyball). A total of 65 athletes were equipped with heart rate monitors that were worn as allowed during practices and games. Data were collected using chest strap mounted activity sensors (Polar Team Pro sensors …

Investigating Student Conceptual Understanding Of Structure And Function By Using Formative Assessment And Automated Scoring Models, Kelli Patrice Carter

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There has been a call from the national community of biologists and biology educators to increase biological literacy of undergraduate students, including understanding and application of core concepts. The structure and function relationship is a core concept identified by the wider biology community and by physiology faculty. Understanding of the core concept structure and function across multiple levels of organization may promote biological literacy. My research focused on the development of formative written assessment tools to provide insight into student understanding of structure and function in anatomy and physiology.

In chapter two I developed automated scoring tools to facilitate the …