Physiology Commons^™

Musculoskeletal Flexibility And Quality Of Life: A Feasibility Study Of Homeless Young Adults In Los Angeles County, Marina A. Marmolejo, Makda Medhanie, Heather Tarleton

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(4): 968-979, 2018. Proper musculoskeletal health is dependent on the efficient inner workings of muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and bones. The homeless experience can be physically debilitating to these tissues and anatomical structures. This feasibility study aims to explore how to answer the overarching question: do the lived experiences of homeless young adults negatively affect their musculoskeletal health? Questionnaires were distributed to assess the demographic characteristics, physical activity, health behaviors, and sleep patterns of 40 homeless young adults and 45 university students in Los Angeles County. Participants also completed supervised stretch tests to assess musculoskeletal …

Autophagy Is Stimulated By Acute High Intensity Interval Exercise In Human Skeletal Muscle And Electrical Pulse Stimulation In C2c12 Myotubes In Vitro, Kurt A. Escobar

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Purpose: 1) To compare the effects of an acute bout of HIIT exercise (treadmill running) on autophagy to MICT exercise in human skeletal muscle 3 hours post exercise, and 2) to test an in vitro model of muscle contraction-induced autophagy using electrical pulse stimulation in C2C12 myotubes. Methods: Study 1: Ten recreationally active males and females completed a bout of high intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise and moderate intensity continuous exercise (MICT) exercise in a fasted state. Muscle biopsies from the vastus lateralis were taken pre and 3 hours post-exercise. Muscle tissue was analyzed for protein expression of markers of …

Division I Female Cross-Country Runners’ Perception Of Eating Behaviors And Attitudes Toward Health: A Pilot Study, Laurie Stickler, Marissa Thomas, Laura Kate Morse

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(3): 941-956, 2018.The complexity behind nutritional decisions and the impact of these decisions on overall health (both physical and emotional) in the Division I female runner is not yet well understood. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of female collegiate cross-country runners from a Division I school on eating behaviors and attitudes toward health. In this qualitative study, six NCAA Division I female collegiate cross-country runners participated in individual interviews. Through qualitative analysis, three themes (Nutritional Views, Identity as a Runner, and Psychological Factors) and 11 subthemes emerged. The …

An Investigation Of The Differences Between Perceived Vs. Measured Body Composition, Social Physique Anxiety, And Overall Appearance Satisfaction Among College Students, Cherilyn N. Mclester, Courtenay S. Hicks, Lauren Miller, John R. Mclester

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(5): 957-967, 2018. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between body composition, social physique anxiety (SPA) and appearance satisfaction among college students by sex and BMI. A secondary purpose was to assess levels of appearance satisfaction before and after body composition testing and discover any differences between perceived body fat percentage (BF%) and weight versus actual measurements.Participants included 212 college students (93 males, 119 females), 22.0 ± 2.2 years. They answered a demographic questionnaire, the Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS), post-assessment questions, and underwent body composition testing via dual energy x-ray …

The Effectiveness Of Myplate And Paleolithic-Based Diet Recommendations, Both With And Without Exercise, On Aerobic Fitness, Muscular Strength And Anaerobic Power In Young Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Collin Popp, Michelle Bohan Brown, Elliot D Jesch, William C. Bridges

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(2): 921-933, 2018. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of recommending a MyPlate or a Paleolithic-based diet, both with and without exercise, on aerobic fitness, strength, and anaerobic power over eight weeks. Participants (n=20) were randomized to one of four groups, (1) a MyPlate diet (MP), (2) Paleolithic-based diet (PD), (3) MyPlate and exercise (MP + Ex), and (4) Paleolithic-based diet and exercise (PD + Ex). The exercise included two days of unsupervised aerobic and resistance exercise. At baseline and final, absolute and relative peak oxygen consumption (absVO_2peak and relVO …

No Performance Or Affective Advantage Of Drinking Versus Rinsing With Water During A 15-Km Running Session In Female Runners, Lauren Shaver, Eric K. O'Neal, Eric E. Hall, Svetlana Nepocatych

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(2): 910-920, 2018. The advantage of ingesting fluids during endurance exercise lasting < 90 min has recently been challenged, but literature confirming or disputing this case is limited, particularly for female athletes. This study examined the effects of consuming water versus mouth rinsing with water during a running time trial. Recreationally active female runners (n = 19) completed two, 15-km time trials on an outdoor course in temperate environment (~20ºC; 87% RH) separated by at least one week in a randomized cross-over study design. Participants consumed 355 ml of water (DW) during their run or mouth rinsed (MR) with water from a handheld water bottle every 3 km for 5 s with physiological, perceptual, and affective variables assessed. DW or MR did not affect completion time (79.8 ± 8.1 min and 79.2 ± …

Concurrent Validity Of The Virtusense® Gait Analysis System For The Quantification Of Spatial And Temporal Parameters Of Gait, Andrew J. Strubhar, Patrick Tan, Laura Storage, Melissa Peterson

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(1): 934-940, 2018. The VirtuSense^Ⓡ (VS) is a new single camera 3D movement-capturing device that has gait analysis capabilities in its arsenal of functional programs. The Gait Analysis System with the VS has not been formally validated. The purpose of the study was to assess the concurrent validity of the VirtuSense^Ⓡ (VS) Gait Analysis System by comparing it to two standards, the GAITRite^Ⓡ (GR) computerized gait mat and manual pedograph (PG). Twenty-seven healthy, young adults performed 4 walking trials at a self-selected pace on a level surface. In 3 trials, stride length, …

Validity Of Critical Velocity Concept For Weighted Sprinting Performance, Nathan D. Dicks, Tammy V. Joe, Kyle J. Hackney, Robert W. Pettitt

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(4): 900-909, 2018. We investigated the validity of a recently developed equation for predicting sprinting times of various tactical loads based upon the performance of a running 3-min all-out exercise test (3MT). Thirteen recreationally trained participants completed the running 3MT to determine critical velocity (CV) and finite running capacity for running velocities exceeding CV (D’). Two subsequent counterbalanced loaded sprints of 800 and 1000 m distances with 20 and 15% of their body mass, respectively, were evaluated. Estimated times (t, sec) for running 800 and 1000 m with a tactical load was derived …

Down Regulation Of Vestibular Balance Stabilizing Mechanisms To Enable Transition Between Motor States, Romain Tisserand, Chris J. Dakin, Machiel H. F. Van Der Loos, Elizabeth A. Croft, Timothy J. Inglis, Jean-Sebastien Blouin

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

The neural control of transition between posture and movement encompasses the regulation of reflex-stabilizing mechanisms to enable motion. Optimal feedback theory suggests that such transitions require the disengagement of one motor control policy before the implementation of another. To test this possibility, we investigated the continuity of the vestibular control of balance during transitions between quiet standing and locomotion and between two standing postures. Healthy subjects initiated and terminated locomotion or shifted the distribution of their weight between their feet, while exposed to electrical vestibular stimuli (EVS). The relationship between EVS and ground reaction forces was quantified using time-frequency analyses. …

Maternal-Fetal Interactions And The Induction Of Preeclampsia By Growth Arrest-Specific 6 (Gas6)/Axl Signaling, Todd Dunaway, Paul Reynolds

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Preeclampsia (PE) is a complicated obstetric complication characterized by increased blood pressure and decreased trophoblast invasion. PE is one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in developed countries. The growth arrest-specific 6 (Gas6) protein is known to induce different responses in cells including prevention of apoptosis and enhanced cell migration and invasion. This protein is secreted in response to growth arrest and it is increased in the serum of PE patients. This discovery suggests a mechanistic role for the Gas6 signaling pathway during PE progression. Gas6 binds to the AXL tyrosine kinase receptor and AXL-mediated …

Physiological Differences Between Low Versus High Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophic Responders To Resistance Exercise Training: Current Perspectives And Future Research Directions, Michael D. Roberts, Cody T. Haun, Christopher B. Mobley, Petey W. Mumford, Matthew A. Romero, Paul A. Roberson, Christopher G. Vann, John J. Mccarthy

Physiology Faculty Publications

Numerous reports suggest there are low and high skeletal muscle hypertrophic responders following weeks to months of structured resistance exercise training (referred to as low and high responders herein). Specifically, divergent alterations in muscle fiber cross sectional area (fCSA), vastus lateralis thickness, and whole body lean tissue mass have been shown to occur in high versus low responders. Differential responses in ribosome biogenesis and subsequent protein synthetic rates during training seemingly explain some of this individual variation in humans, and mechanistic in vitro and rodent studies provide further evidence that ribosome biogenesis is critical for muscle hypertrophy. High responders may …

Loss Of Marv1 Promotes Chop Signaling In Mouse Liver, Shad Anthony Mitchell

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Theses and Dissertations

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a term used to define a set of metabolic diseases: obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), hyperlipidemia, hypertension, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and nonalcoholic hepatosteatosis (NASH). Those with MetS have a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Current drug treatments for MetS treat the individual pathologies associated with the diseases, rather than directly targeting MetS as a whole. We hypothesize that the inhibition of a ubiquitous lipid transporter known as ARV1 can improve pathologies associated with MetS. To test this hypothesis, we utilized liver tissue from mARV1 knockout mice fed a high-fat diet and examined …

Identifying Kif Subtype That Mediates Axonal Targeting Of Kv7 Channels, Allison Houghton, Jennifer Walters, Mary Hong, Dhruv Joshi, Hee Jung Chung

PRECS 2018

Early-onset Benign Familial Neonatal Epilepsy (BFNE) and Epileptic Encephalopathy (EE), are associated with mutations in neuronal KCNQ/Kv7 channel subunits Kv7.2 and Kv7.3. Kv7 channels are voltage-dependent potassium channels. Enriched at the axonal plasma membrane, they pump potassium ions out of the neurons and inhibit repetitive or burst firing of action potentials. A single neuronal Kv7 channel is a heterotetramer composed of two Kv7.2 and two Kv7.3 subunits. BFNE and EE mutations in Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 lead to decreased surface expression along the axon, which means less potassium ions are moved across the axonal membrane where action potentials are generated and …

Mechanisms Of Fatigability In People With Type 2 Diabetes And Prediabetes, Jonathon William Senefeld

Dissertations (1934 -)

Dynamic fatiguing exercise of limb muscles is the basis of exercise training and a cornerstone of management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and prediabetes. Little is known however, about the fatigability of limb muscles (the acute exercise induced reduction in force or power) and the involved mechanisms in people with T2D and prediabetes. Current evidence suggests that people with T2D have reduced muscle strength and power, are more fatigable after static contractions, and have physical impairments affecting activities of daily living. However, impaired function in people with T2D compared with controls is larger for dynamic than static tasks. The …

The Role Of Pulmonary Stretch Receptor Afferents In Swallow-Breathing Coordination: A Comparison Of Central Respiratory Rhythm Versus Mechanical Ventilation On Swallow In A Decerebrate Feline Model, Kofi-Kermit A. Horton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Swallowing is an essential motor act that coordinates the movement of food or saliva from the mouth through the pharynx and into the esophagus while protecting the upper airways from aspiration of those materials. Disordered swallowing, or dysphagia, results when bolus movement from the oropharyngeal phase into the esophageal phase is uncoordinated. Dysphagia directly causes or increases the risk of aspiration during swallowing in many clinical pathologies including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cerebrovascular incidents (stroke) in addition to being prevalent among the elderly population. The coordination between breathing and swallowing is mediated through the interaction of the swallow and respiratory …

Local Adaptation Signatures In Thermal Performance Of The Temperate Coral Astrangia Poculata, Hannah Elise Aichelman

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The Northern Star Coral (Astrangia poculata) is an understudied temperate scleractinian coral that provides unique opportunities to understand the roles of phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation in coral physiological tolerance limits. Astrangia poculata inhabits hard bottom ecosystems from the northwestern Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico and withstands an annual temperature range up to 20°C. Additionally, A. poculata is facultatively symbiotic and co-occurs in both symbiotic (“brown”) and aposymbiotic (“white”) states. Here, brown and white A. poculata were collected from Virginia (VA) and Rhode Island (RI), USA and exposed to heat (18-32°C) and cold (18-6°C) temperature assays during …

Elucidating The Role Of The Transcriptional Co-Activator Camta1 In Cardiac Development, Nate Batey, Zach Frederich, Morgan Fronk, Nate Jenkins, Jonathon Hill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is the most common type of birth defect in the United States, causing more first-year infant deaths than any other birth defect (1). While the causes of CHD are varied, genetic defects are known to play a significant role. Identifying and studying genes involved in embryonic heart development can enhance understanding of the genetic factors in CHDs. The camta1 gene is a promising candidate due to its transient expression in heart morphogenesis and its relationship to camta2 , the only other member of its family in vertebrates and a known player in adult heart failure (2,3).

Spinal Control Of Locomotion: Individual Neurons, Their Circuits And Functions, Marie-Pascale Côté, Lynda M. Murray, Maria Knikou

Publications and Research

Systematic research on the physiological and anatomical characteristics of spinal cord interneurons along with their functional output has evolved for more than one century. Despite significant progress in our understanding of these networks and their role in generating and modulating movement, it has remained a challenge to elucidate the properties of the locomotor rhythm across species. Neurophysiological experimental evidence indicates similarities in the function of interneurons mediating afferent information regarding muscle stretch and loading, being affected by motor axon collaterals and those mediating presynaptic inhibition in animals and humans when their function is assessed at rest. However, significantly different muscle …

Ecophysiology Of Oxygen Supply In Cephalopods, Matthew A. Birk

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cephalopods are an important component of many marine ecosystems and support large fisheries. Their active lifestyles and complex behaviors are thought to be driven in large part by competition with fishes. Although cephalopods appear to compete successfully with fishes, a number of their important physiological traits are arguably inferior, such as an inefficient mode of locomotion via jet propulsion and a phylogenetically limited means of blood-borne gas transport. In active shallow-water cephalopods, these traits result in an interesting combination of very high oxygen demand and limited oxygen supply. The ability to maintain active lifestyles despite these metabolic constraints makes cephalopods …

Acute Cardiometabolic Responses To Medicine Ball Interval Training In Children, Avery D. Faigenbaum, Jie Kang, Nicholas A. Ratamess, Anne C. Farrell, Nicole Ellis, Ira Vought, Jill Bush

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(4): 886-899, 2018. Medicine ball interval training (MBIT) has been found to be an effective exercise modality in fitness programs, yet the acute physiological responses to this type of this exercise in youth are unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute cardiometabolic responses to MBIT in children. Fourteen children (mean age 10.1 ± 1.3 yr) were tested for peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak) on a treadmill and subsequently (> 48 hours later) performed a progressive 10 min MBIT protocol of 5 exercises (EX): standing marches (EX1), alternating lunges (EX2), squat …

Returners Exhibit Greater Jumping Performance Improvements During A Peaking Phase Compared With New Players On A Volleyball Team, Caleb D. Bazyler, Satoshi Mizuguchi, Ashley A. Kavanaugh, John J. Mcmahon, Paul Comfort, Michael H. Stone

ETSU Faculty Works

Purpose: To determine if jumping-performance changes during a peaking phase differed among returners and new players on a female collegiate volleyball team and to determine which variables best explained the variation in performance changes.

Methods: Fourteen volleyball players were divided into 2 groups—returners (n = 7) and new players (n = 7)—who completed a 5-wk peaking phase prior to conference championships. Players were tested at baseline before the preseason on measures of the vastus lateralis cross-sectional area using ultrasonography, estimated back-squat 1-repetition maximum, countermovement jump height (JH), and relative peak power on a force platform. Jumping performance, rating of perceived …

“Seeing” Beyond The Knees: Inflammation In The Eye As A Result Of Mechanical Stress, Michael Goodman, David Kooyman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

A correlation between Osteoarthritis (OA), affecting over 27 million people in the US [1], and metabolic syndrome (MS), affecting over 340 million people worldwide [2], becomes strikingly important as the search for an effective treatment for OA continues. Increasing evidence has shown that OA is linked to systemic inflammation and MS. With MS comes other substantial comorbidities, including diabetic retinopathy (DR). Ocular inflammation promoted through mechanically induced OA would provide evidence that mechanical stress can be a factor leading to systemic inflammation. Such results would have profound impacts upon the way we view OA as a metabolic disorder, leading to …

Rage Functions During Secondhand Smoke-Induced Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Brent Kimber, Dr. Paul Reynolds

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) is a common respiratory disease among pre-term infants or newborns exposed to harmful toxins during pregnancy or at birth. This leads to several respiratory diseases later in life such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) or asthma. However, research on the effects of cigarette smoke in utero has many gaps. This project focuses on developing a transgenic mouse model that mimics the pulmonary morphologies and characteristics of BPD. This model will then be used for further research and potentially discover new therapeutic methods for BPD. The transgenic mouse was established using a modified genetic scheme whereby the …

Measurement Of Lumbar Multifidus Asymmetry In Amateur Cricket Pace Bowlers Using Real-Time Ultrasound, Matthew Toumazou, Carol A. Flavell, Susan J. Gordon

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(3): 875-885, 2018. Objectives: To determine if lumbar multifidus asymmetry existed between the fifth lumbar (L5) and 1^stsacral (S1) spinal level in a group of amateur cricket pace bowlers and a healthy non-cricketing group of males, and to determine if there were significant differences between groups in lumbar multifidus asymmetry at rest, on contraction, or during activation. Design: A prospective single blinded cross-sectional study. Methods: Forty healthy participants were recruited to two groups: an amateur cricket pace bowling group (n=20) and a non-cricketing group (n=20). Bilateral real-time ultrasound imaging of lumbar multifidus was …

Apoe And Alzheimer’S Disease: Neuroimaging Of Metabolic And Cerebrovascular Dysfunction, Jason A. Brandon, Brandon C. Farmer, Holden C. Williams, Lance A. Johnson

Physiology Faculty Publications

Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) is the strongest genetic risk factor for late onset Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), and is associated with impairments in cerebral metabolism and cerebrovascular function. A substantial body of literature now points to E4 as a driver of multiple impairments seen in AD, including blunted brain insulin signaling, mismanagement of brain cholesterol and fatty acids, reductions in blood brain barrier (BBB) integrity, and decreased cerebral glucose uptake. Various neuroimaging techniques, in particular positron emission topography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have been instrumental in characterizing these metabolic and vascular deficits associated with this important AD risk factor. In …

An "Exercise" In Cardiac Metabolism, Stephen C. Kolwicz Jr.

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Research has demonstrated that the high capacity requirements of the heart are satisfied by a preference for oxidation of fatty acids. However, it is well known that a stressed heart, as in pathological hypertrophy, deviates from its inherent profile and relies heavily on glucose metabolism, primarily achieved by an acceleration in glycolysis. Moreover, it has been suggested that the chronically lipid overloaded heart augments fatty acid oxidation and triglyceride synthesis to an even greater degree and, thus, develops a lipotoxic phenotype. In comparison, classic studies in exercise physiology have provided a basis for the acute metabolic changes that occur during …

Effects Of Very Short-Term Dynamic Constant External Resistance Exercise On Strength And Barbell Velocity In Untrained Individuals, M. Travis Byrd, Haley C. Bergstrom

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(1): 867-874, 2018.This study examined the effect of an upper body dynamic constant external resistance (DCER) exercise (barbell bench press [BP]), using the very short-term training (VST) model on strength and barbell velocity. Ten (5 females, 5 males) subjects (mean ± SD age: 21.4 ± 2.8 yrs; height: 1.75 ± 0.12 m; body mass: 83 ± 8.8 kg) completed two pre-test visits (pre-test 1 and pre-test 2) to serve as the within subjects control, three training visits, and one post-test visit. The subject’s 1 repetition maximum (1RM) for the BP as well as the …

Codon Usage Revisited: Lack Of Correlation Between Codon Usage And The Number Of Trna Genes In Enterobacteria, Joaquín Rojas, Gabriel Castillo, Lorenzo Eugenio Leiva, Sara Elgamal, Omar Orellana, Michael Ibba, Assaf Katz

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

It is widely believed that if a high number of genes are found for any tRNA in a rapidly replicating bacteria, then the cytoplasmic levels of that tRNA will be high and an open reading frame containing a higher frequency of the complementary codon will be translated faster. This idea is based on correlations between the number of tRNA genes, tRNA concentration and the frequency of codon usage observed in a limited number of strains as well as from the fact that artificially changing the number of tRNA genes alters translation efficiency and consequently the amount of properly folded protein …

Effects Of Instability On Core Muscle Activation In A Side Bridge, Erin E. Kishman

Masters Theses

Training the musculature of the core continues to be perceived as an essential component of conditioning and rehabilitation settings (11). A popular way to train the core is with the use of instability devices, such as Swiss ball or suspension trainer. However, there is limited research on the effects of these devices on core muscle activity. The purpose of this study was to examine core muscle activity during side bridge variations with and without instability devices (Floor, Swiss Ball, and TRX) through electromyography (EMG) of the rectus abdominis, external oblique, erector spinae, and latissimus dorsi. 39 participants performed three variations …

Transcriptional Correlates Of Proximal-Distal Identify And Regeneration Timing In Axolotl Limbs, S. Randal Voss, David Murrugarra, Tyler B. Jensen, James R Monaghan

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

Cells within salamander limbs retain memories that inform the correct replacement of amputated tissues at different positions along the length of the arm, with proximal and distal amputations completing regeneration at similar times. We investigated the possibility that positional memory is associated with variation in transcript abundances along the proximal-distal limb axis. Transcripts were deeply sampled from Ambystoma mexicanum limbs at the time they were administered fore arm vs upper arm amputations, and at 19 post-amputation time points. After amputation and prior to regenerative outgrowth, genes typically expressed by differentiated muscle cells declined more rapidly in upper arms while cell …