Physiology Commons^™

Polar Bear Behavior: Morphologic And Physiologic Adaptations, John P. Whiteman

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Polar bears possess morphologic and physiologic characteristics that reflect their terrestrial lineage as members of the bear family (Ursidae) as well as adaptations to the Arctic marine environment. Among marine mammals, they are the least adapted for aquatic life. They exhibit substantial seasonality in body mass, body condition, and many physiological functions, reflecting the annual cycle of both their Arctic sea ice habitat and the availability of their main prey, ringed seals. This hypercarnivorous diet has likely influenced the polar bear’s craniodental morphology and nutritional physiology. Similar to other marine mammal predators, polar bears exhibit a relatively high resting metabolic …

Lipid Metabolites As Energy Stores In Four Stingray Species, Lauren Moniz

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Assessing macronutrient transfer is important for estimating ecosystem health and structure. This nutrient transfer is facilitated through trophic position interactions and the consumption of biomass. Lipids are macronutrients that can be used to assess energy flow. Triglyceride (TAG) and free fatty acids (FFA) are important lipids that are obtained from diet and integrate into tissues. They are representative of energy stores and potential energy available for metabolic processes. In marine ecosystems, stingrays occupy the mesopredator niche, facilitating nutrient transfer from lower to higher trophic positions. Stingrays consume a variety of prey items ranging in lipid content, but how lipid metabolites …

Effect Of Imagery And Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Training On Selected Soccer Skills Performance, Sara Majlesi

Student Works (2020-2029)

The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of PETTLEP video imagery (Physical, Environment, Task, Timing, Learning, Emotion and Perspective), heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB), and concurrent intervention of both on selected soccer skill performances. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of PETTLEP video imagery, HRVB and concurrent intervention on soccer players' reactive motor skill test (RMST), sprint time, reactive agility, passing time, and passing accuracy. Participants of this study were Malaysian high school soccer players (N=64), with mean age of 15.31±1.83, who were assigned randomly into four groups: three experimental groups and one control group. …

Monitoring Relationships Between Corticosterone And Snake Fungal Disease In Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Horridus) In Western Kentucky, John Bromley Hewlett

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Over the past four decades, emergent fungal diseases have been the most devastating relative to species declines and extinctions. While most research has focused on fungal diseases affecting amphibians and bats, less has focused on diseases like snake fungal disease (SFD), caused by Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (Oo). SFD was first described in 2006 in North America within a Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) population in New Hampshire. Since then SFD has been documented in 19 US states, one US territory (Puerto Rico), and Europe. SFD causes high mortality in some species, including the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus …

Males Of The Wolf Spider Rabidosa Rabida Use Two Mechanisms To Stun Females During Copulation, Daniel Schoenberg

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The differences in energetic input between the sexes required to produce gametes translates to the differences in reproductive behavior and overall mating systems seen in a species. Females generally produce a few energetically and resource expensive eggs and typically choose a high-quality suitor to ensure she has high quality offspring. In contrast, males produce abundant energetically cheap sperm and attempt to fertilize as many eggs as possible in as many females as possible. Both sexes are trying to maximize their inclusive fitness, but the dichotomy of interests can lead to sexual conflict and perhaps extreme or unusual behaviors such as …

Resolving Variability In Size Structure In An Individual-Based Model For The North Pacific Krill, Euphausia Pacifica, Roxanne Robertson

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Individual-based models (IBMs) have emerged as a powerful tool for ecological research and are particularly well suited to studies of plankton ecology. In this thesis, I develop an IBM for the North Pacific krill, Euphausia pacifica, with the goal of replicating observed variability in size-structure in the northern California Current Ecosystem. Krill, and E. pacifica in particular, are central to the structure and function of the California Current Ecosystem. Their response to environmental forcing translates climate variability to higher trophic levels and underpins broader ecosystem responses. Recent observations indicate environmental and climate-related shifts in E. pacifica size distributions, which …

Morphological Variance In Mouthparts And Foraging Behavior In Bumblebees, Ye Jin Lee

Honors Theses

Bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus) show an incredible degree of size variation within and between species. Individuals from the same hive may vary up to 10-fold in mass. This variation allows individuals to specialize in foraging on different flowers suited to their morphology. However, as different species have different foraging behaviors, their variation in mouthparts and scaling of mouthparts to body size may have been under different kinds of stabilizing selection as they adapted to collect nectar from flowering plants over evolutionary time. Here, we examined the scaling relationships between body size and mouthpart structures, and the variation in mouthpart shape …

Effects Of Integrin Subtypes On Migration And Invasion In Primary Lung Cancer Cells In Advanced Stage And Inhibitory Effect Of Millettocalyxin B, Pennapa Lafauy

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Integrin-targeting compounds have shown clinically significant benefits in many patients. Here, we examined the activity of millettocalyxin B, extracted from the stem bark of Millettia erythrocalyx, in lung cancer cells. The viability of human lung cancer cell was investigated by the 3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5diphenyl tetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay. Migration and invasion assays were performed. Phalloidin-rhodamine staining was used to determine the formation of filopodia. Western blot analysis was used to identify the signaling proteins involved in migration regulation. Non-toxic concentrations (0-25 μM) of millettocalyxin B reduced migration and invasion of lung cancer A549 cells. Filopodia were significantly reduced in millettocalyxin B treated …

Role Of P53 Deficient Clonogenic Endothelial Cells In The Pathogenesis Of Pulmonary Hypertension, Aneel Roy Bhagwani

Theses and Dissertations

Pulmonary Artery Hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disorder of the small vessels of the pulmonary vasculature. It is characterized by occlusive vascular remodeling leading to right heart failure and ultimately death. PAH pathogenesis involves a multifactorial etiology leading to formation of occlusive lesions in small (preacinary) pulmonary arteries. These lesions contain hyper-proliferative, apoptosis resistant endothelial cells (ECs), smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. ECs play a major role in the development of PAH. These ECs in vascular lesions are primitive and express progenitor cell markers, including CD117 (c-kit).

We have isolated clonally expanded, c-kit+ ECs from the lungs of Green Fluorescent …

A Novel Review Of Heat Shock Protein 110 Kda: A Basis For Research And Continued Experimentation Through Biochemical Analysis, Crist W. Cuffee

Theses and Dissertations

Heat shock protein 110 kDa, Hsp110, is a distinct cellular protector, different in form and function from Hsp70, a close relative of Hsp110. Functioning primarily as a holdase or in tandem with other molecular chaperones, a review of current accomplishments elucidates the uniqueness of this protein and the continued mysteries that surrounds it. Found only in eukaryotes, Hsp110 has been linked to many diseases, ranging from parasitic infection to neurodegenerative disorders. While still lacking, studies of this protein have provided much in the realm of speculation on the mechanisms behind Hsp110s’ contribution to different pathologies. This review will serve as …

Muscarinic Excitation Of Dopamine Neurons In The Ventral Tegmental Area Via Activation Of A Trpc-Like Cation Conductance, Yu Tzu Chen

Theses and Dissertations

Dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) play a crucial role in reward and motivational behaviors, including the development of drug addictions. VTA DA neurons receive excitatory cholinergic inputs from the mesopontine tegmentum. Blockage of the M5 muscarinic receptor in DA neurons has been shown to attenuate drug-induced DA release and abuse-related behaviors, but the molecular mechanism is unknown. In this study, experiments were designed to identify the electrophysiological effects of muscarinic agonism in the modulation of action potential kinetics and firing patterns in VTA DA neurons of mice. Pharmacology of the muscarinic receptor-evoked current was also characterized. …

Clinical Significance, Functional Role And Molecular Mechanism Of 2’-O-Methyltransferase Ftsj3 In Promoting Cancer Progression, Morenci Manning-Powell

Wayne State University Dissertations

2’-O-methylation (2’-O-Me), one of the most common modifications within RNA, has multiple roles in modulating RNA structure, stability, and interactions, as well as gene transcription and translation. We previously performed integrative genomic and transcriptomic analysis of 58 RNA methyltransferases, and identified FTSJ3 (FtsJ RNA 2ʹ-O-methyltransferase 3) as significantly amplified/overexpressed in breast cancer. Knockdown of FTSJ3 inhibits breast cancer cell growth in vitro. However, the clinical significance, functional role, and molecular mechanism of FTSJ3 in human cancer remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we first analyzed the differential mRNA and protein expression of FTSJ3 between tumor and normal tissues …

Characterization And Reliability Of The Work-Time Relationship During Arm-Cranking, Tristan Starling-Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

INTRODUCTION: The critical power (CP) exercise test provides 2 measures, CP and anaerobic working capacity (AWC). CP represents a fatigue threshold that separates the heavy and severe exercise domains, while AWC represents the finite amount of work that can be done above CP. A relatively new protocol for estimating CP has emerged and is described as the 3-minute all-out test (3MT). While this lower body 3MT test has been examined for validity and reliability, very little has been done for the upper body. PURPOSE: Examine the reliability of EP and WEP from the 3MT during upper-body ergometry. This study also …

Influence Of Body Composition, Velocity Profiles, And Sex-Related Differences On Army Combat Fitness Test Performance, David Boffey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) will become the United States Army's mandatory physical fitness test in March of 2022. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between ACFT performance and both body composition and velocity profiles, and to determine sex differences for these variables. Data was collected in November 2020 (Fall) and March 2021 (Spring) from male (n = 55) and female (n = 17) Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadets. Body composition was assessed with a bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) device, and cadets completed a squat jump (SJ) force-velocity profile (FVP) and a hex …

Comparison Of The Times To Exhaustion, Physiological, Perceptual, And Neuromusuclar Responses During Constant Heart Rate, Constant Vo2, And Constant Power Exercise, Pasquale Jiovanni Succi

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

The purposes of this study were to: 1) Determine if there are differences in the sustainability of exercise when anchored at critical heart rate (CHR), the VO₂ associated with CHR (VO₂CHR), or the power output associated with CHR (PCHR); 2) examine the patterns of responses in power output, metabolic (heart rate [HR], VO₂, respiration rate [RR]), neuromuscular (electromyographic [EMG] amplitude [AMP], mean power frequency [MPF], mechanomyographic [MMG] AMP and MPF, perceptual (rating of perceived exertion [RPE]), and muscle oxygenation responses (%SmO₂) during exercise anchored by HR, VO₂, and power output; and …

Examination Of Sex- And Limb-Specific Fatigue During Unilateral, Isometric Forearm Exercise, Caleb Christian Voskuil

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of unilateral, isometric handgrip holds to failure for the dominant (Dm) and non-dominant (NDm) limb on ipsilateral ([IPS] exercised side) and contralateral ([CON] non-exercised side) performance fatigability. Twenty individuals participated in this study (Men [n =10]; Women [n = 10; Composite Demographics: Age: 22.2 years; Height: 174.4 cm; Body Mass: 75.0 kg) and completed three visits. Two, 6 s maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) for the Dm and NDm limb were performed during visit 1, followed by a familiarization of the fatigue test. Visits 2 and 3 included an isometric, …

Quadriceps Recruitment And Twitch Properties In Lean And Obese Women Before And After Fatiguing Exercise, Rebekah Seay Carpenter

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Skeletal muscle strength, specifically that of the anti-gravitational muscles such as the quadriceps, is essential for performing dynamic tasks including walking, navigating stairs, and transitioning between sitting and standing. Obesity has been shown to negatively impact musculoskeletal function and decrease quadriceps strength relative to body weight. Additionally, obesity has been linked with higher rates of fatigue and lower strength outcomes following a test of muscular endurance of the quadriceps. Since obesity lowers relative strength, it is likely that quadriceps muscle weakness contributes to reduced physical function of dynamic tasks. However, to date, the precise mechanism for obesity-induced muscle weakness has …

Novel Mammalian Models For Understanding And Treating Spinal Cord Injury, Michael B. Orr

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is devastating and often leaves the injured individual with persistent dysfunction. The injury persists because humans have poor wound repair and there are no pharmacologic treatments to induce wound repair after SCI. The continued efforts to discover therapeutic targets and develop treatments heavily relies on animal models. The purpose of this project is to develop and study novel mammalian models of SCI to provide insights for the development and effective implementation of SCI therapies.

Lab mice (Mus musculus) are a powerful tool for recapitulating the progression and persistent damage evident in human SCI, but …

Effects Of Voluntary Exercise On Pressure-Induced Natriuresis In Hypertensive Female And Male Rats, Keshari Sudasinghe

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Hypertension (HT) is one of the major diseases associated with the circulatory system and remains a public health problem with a high rate of prevalence in the adult population in the USA. The pressure natriuresis mechanism which is Na+ excretion in respond to rise in blood pressure acts as a long-term regulator of arterial blood pressure. Recent studies have demonstrated that impairment of this long-term pressure natriuresis mechanism is involved in hypertension (HT) and many other renal disorders. Exercise is a nonpharmacological treatment to help control HT, and exercise has a beneficial effect on vascular health, endothelial functions, arterial stiffness, …

Search For New Fertility Markers In Bull Sperm, Saulo Menegatti Zoca

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sperm are stored for extended periods of time in the epididymis, but upon ejaculation motility is increased and lifespan is decreased. After insemination, sperm must traverse the female barriers and undergo capacitation to complete fertilization; however, there are differences in fertility even among bulls that successfully pass a breeding soundness exam. For any potential marker of fertility, there must be variability expressed among animals. The series of studies in this dissertation had the objective 1) to evaluate differences between epididymal and ejaculated sperm and respective fluids proteins to understand increased longevity of epididymal sperm; 2) to evaluate the potential of …

The Presentation Of Adhesive Capsulitis Of The Hip: A Case Study, Patrick E. Jurewicz, Ryan C. Berlinrut, Frank K. Noojin Iii, Zachary K. Winkelmann

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

A 47-year-old female patient employed as a nurse in a mental health facility working 10-hour shifts reported to the sports medicine clinic for an initial orthopaedic examination after she twisted and fell out of bed causing direct compressive forces on her right hip. She has a history of an underdeveloped right hip, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) allergy, and low back pain (Oswestry score: 41/50, NPRS: 8/10) and is classified as a heavy smoker for 30 years. After initial onset, the patient’s pain increased with all motions. The patient also described a ‘catching sensation’ in her hip. The patient used …

Community Opioid Overdose Prevention And Naloxone Distribution Programs: An Evidence-To-Practice Review, Madison M. Hauge, Kathryn C. Downs, Zachary K. Winkelmann

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 100 people die of drug overdose in the United States every day. This frighteningly high mortality rate has created the need for community-based opioid overdose prevention programs (OOPPs). Currently, there are more than 188 community-run programs operating in the United States. These programs teach individuals how to distribute naloxone and respond properly to a drug overdose situation. This guiding systematic review depicts the current literature available on OOPPs and their effectiveness. The authors performed an article search to discover the most relevant and recent articles, which were graded using a quality …

The Role And Value Of The Athletic Trainer In The Chiropractic Medicine Setting, Nicholas Spangler

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

In the United States, back pain is the most common cause of activity limitation in people younger than 45 years, the second most frequent reason for visits to the physician, the third most common cause of surgical procedure, and the most frequently reported subcategory of musculoskeletal impairment in the United States of people aged up to 65 years (51.7%).1 Chiropractors are healthcare professionals who are trained in the evaluation and treatment of this patient population and utilize a variety of skills like spinal manipulation, soft tissue mobilization, modalities, and therapeutic exercise. Athletic trainers are healthcare professionals whose educational and clinical …

Evaluation And Treatment Of The Water-Polo Player With Anterior Glenohumeral Instability, M Zimmerman

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Background: Glenohumeral (GH) instability is a common shoulder condition with a range of characteristics from laxity within the GH joint to complete dislocation of the humerus. The GH joint is held in place by static and dynamic stabilizers that need to be functioning appropriately to center the humerus in the glenoid fossa. Acquired shoulder instability is defined as chronic stress of the humerus in an externally rotated and abducted position on the shoulder joint from repetitive overhead (OH) sports causing anterior instability of the shoulder. Diagnosing shoulder instability is reliant on the patient’s history and physical examination findings during testing. …

Cervical Kyphosis In A Collegiate Baseball Player, L E. Trail, B J. Warner, D M. Gallegos

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Background: A 21-year-old collegiate baseball player reported to the athletic training staff complaining of pain along the superior angle of the scapula, decreased shoulder range of motion, and transient numbness and tingling in the 4th and 5th digits of his right hand. Physical evaluation revealed substantial spasm and rigidity of the upper trapezius and scapular stabilizer musculature, along with myofascial adhesions in the rhomboids and levator scapulae, in addition to weakness with shoulder abduction and external rotation. All thoracic outlet syndrome testing yielded no positive tests. Thorough patient history revealed a history of shoulder arthroscopy the previous summer to address …

Mite Diet Sequences Obtained By High Throughput Sequencing Of Gut Contents Of Freshly Collected Water Mites, Adrian Amelio Vasquez, Obadeh Mohiddin, Zeyu Li, Brittany L. Bonnici, Katherine Gurdziel, Jeffrey L. Ram

Physiology Faculty Research Publications

Cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) barcode sequences in this file were obtained from gut DNA extracted from 54 freshly collected water mites, comprising 21 Lebertia quinquemaculosa , 30 Lebertia davidcooki , 1 Limnesia , and 2 Arrenurus specimens. Methods and other details about these sequences are described in a paper by the same authors in a submitted publication (2021: URL to be given here when published). Data on collection locations, primers (mLep and LCOI), amino acid translations, etc. are included in corresponding sequences uploaded to GenBank. The right column below contains additional notes on naming the taxa of the sequences …

An Exploratory Analysis Of A Treatment Based Classification Algorithm To Treat Patellar Tendinopathy, Monica Matocha, Patti Syvertson, Janet Mcmurray, Emily R. Dietz, Russell T. Baker, Alan Nasypany, Don Reordan, Darcy Downey

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

The general and athletic populations commonly experience patellar tendon pain, which is frequently treated with a gold standard 12-week eccentric exercise protocol. The present research study was designed to determine the effects of a treatment based classification (TBC) algorithm utilizing indirect treatment techniques in patellar tendinopathy participants. Ten participants (seven females, three males, mean age = 19.6 ± 1.07, mean symptom duration = 2.14 years with a range of one week to six years) with patellar tendinopathy were evaluated and included in this study. Each participant underwent a thorough evaluation process to aid in determining inclusion: participant medical history, range …

Health & Nutritional Sciences Free Communication Day: Spring 2021 Plan B Abstracts, Brianna Vig, Michael Pappan, Taylor Svehla, Alexander Iverson, Tanner Jerome, Christian Gravius, Kaitlyn Jackman, Savannah Ratermann, Gwyneth Phillips, Jenna Rheder, Erin Hallenbeck, Logan Ammons, Rachel Astleford, Francine Hoffman, Ryan Folley, Kylie Serie, Jenna Christianson, Haley Strait, Kelsey Kessler

Health and Nutritional Sciences Graduate Students Plan B Capstone Projects

This document contains Plan B abstracts presented by graduate students at the Health and Nutritional Sciences Free Communication Day, held on May 4th, 2021.

Abstract titles include:

• Local Restaurants’ Marketing and Sponsorship Within Collegiate Athletics
• Preparing the Future of Campus Recreation
• Motivational Factors Influencing College Choice: NCAA Division I Female Volleyball Athletes
• The Significance of a Successful Internship Program
• Foundations of Publicly Subsidized Sport Stadiums: The Case of U.S. Bank Stadium
• Enhancing Member Experience During a Pandemic
• The Risk of Depression in Football Players Diagnosed with a Concussion
• Effectiveness of Color-Tinted Glasses in Reducing Photophobia in Patients Diagnosed with Mild …

Myelin, Cpla2, And Azithromycin: Modulation Of Macrophage Activation In Spinal Cord Injury Inflammation, Timothy J. Kopper

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Spinal cord injury (SCI) produces a chronic inflammatory state primarily mediated by macrophages consisting of resident microglia and infiltrating monocytes. These chronically activated SCI macrophages adopt a pro-inflammatory, pathological state that continues to cause additional damage after the initial injury and inhibits recovery. While the roles of macrophages in SCI pathophysiology are well documented, the factors contributing to this maladaptive response are poorly understood. Here, we identify the detrimental effects of myelin debris on macrophage physiology and demonstrate a novel, activation state-dependent role for cytosolic phospholipase-A2 (cPLA₂) in myelin- mediated potentiation of pro-inflammatory macrophage activation. Macrophage- mediated inflammatory …

Estrogen Disruption Of Hypothalamic Neural Activity, Princess Dickson

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The brain is highly dependent on the endocrine system for proper neurodevelopment, as it plays a key role in many biological processes. Bisphenol A is a chemical found in plastics that has the potential to mimic the effects of Estrogen in the body, at least weakly. People interact with plastic that contains BPA regularly, and people are at risk for exposure even before being born. The abundance of BPA, along with other exogenous estrogens, makes examining the relationship between early exposure and changes in brain activity imperative. The current study aims to establish a relationship between disrupted estrogen function and …