Physiology Commons^™

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

Honors Theses

This study explores how the tempo of music, measured in beats per minute (BPM), affects dogs' heart rate and oxytocin levels, adding to past research that shows that music affects physiological and behavioral states in dogs. Being able to understand these effects holds practical implications for improving overall well-being in canines in environments such as homes, shelters, and clinical environments. Using a within-subjects design, the dogs were exposed to slow and fast versions of one instrumental track, along with a white noise baseline condition before each randomized condition. Heart rate was recorded continuously throughout the session, and oxytocin saliva samples …

Which Energy Expenditure Equation Is Most Accurate In A Field-Based Setting?, Merrill C. Ward

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Several energy expenditure prediction equations for walking on varied terrain exist; however, these predictions are often theoretical and have not undergone rigorous field testing for accuracy. Field research on this topic is sparse. The aim of this study was to determine if any existing energy expenditure prediction equations are accurate in a field-based setting with load and gradient being taken into account (i.e., under conditions that are most applicable to day hiking). This was done by directly measuring relative VO₂ (ml/kg/min) of study participants and comparing these direct measurements to the values generated from the existing prediction equations. Fifteen …

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 …

Morphological Variation Of Lingual Glands In Wild American Alligator (Alligator Mississippiensis) Populations, Benjamin Angalet

Master's Theses

American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) inhabit diverse aquatic ecosystems including freshwater wetlands, swamps, and estuarine rivers. As apex predators, their physiological resilience has implications for ecosystem stability and long-term conservation. With projected sea-level rise and increasing saltwater intrusion into coastal freshwater habitats, understanding the osmoregulatory capacity of alligators is increasingly important. Unlike marine-tolerant crocodilians such as the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), which possess specialized salt-secreting lingual glands in addition to renal and cloacal mechanisms, the morphology and physiological significance of lingual glands in wild American alligators remain poorly understood. This study examined lingual gland morphology and plasma …

Teaching Beyond The Textbook, Jada Fritzemeier

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

As part of the Community Engaged Learning component in our Community Psychology class, we worked closely with St. Joseph Catholic School and Saint John’s Preparatory School to support students’ learning and understanding of their education and its values. Both schools have shared values and work to promote the integration of faith and the Benedictine values into their daily lives. While there, we provided one-on-one support to students with various academic and well-being needs as well as classroom assistance. These include after-school tutoring, mindfulness walks with students, interactive activities to promote community, and helping teachers and students in the classroom. By …

Comparative Biomechanics: Blattodea Antennal Morphology And Physiology, Lucas W. Marsh

All Theses

Equipped with muscle-free antennae, many insects can twist and bend their antennae on demand. We hypothesized that hemolymph circulating through the antennae provides pressure that facilitates twisting and bending and provides a feedback control channel for tactile sensing in insects. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a thorough morphological and physiological analysis of antennae in three Clades of Blattodea. We studied morphology by evaluating the distinguishable features of the body and antenna, as well as the internal structure of the antennal lumen. Then, in a series of experiments on live cockroaches, we measured blood pressure along the antenna. This was …

Understanding The Role Of Toxs As A Bile Sensing Component Of The Toxrs Virulence Regulatory System In Vibrio Spp., Minje Kim

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Pathogenic Vibrio bacteria, such as V. cholerae and V. parahaemolyticus, colonize in the human small intestine to cause severe gastrointestinal disease. During the infection, these bacteria encounter bile salts, antimicrobial cholesterol metabolites secreted into the intestine. Pathogenic Vibrio species have evolved to utilize bile salts as signals to regulate virulence. The signaling depends in part on ToxRS, a conserved co-component transmembrane transcription regulator. ToxRS consists of the transcription factor ToxR and its membrane-tethered binding partner ToxS. ToxS is required for ToxR stability and full transcriptional activity. Although bile salts are known to influence ToxRS-dependent virulence gene expression, the molecular …

Veratridine Suppresses Rictor-Mtorc2 Signaling Pathway In Colon Cancer Patient-Derived Xenograft Cells, Morgan Daniel Montgomery

Honors Thesis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the second deadliest and fourth most common cancer in the world. The metastatic form of CRC is especially devastating due to a lack of effective and safer therapeutic options. Another challenge includes an increasing number of younger patients. Among critical signaling pathways overactivated in CRC, mTORC2 plays a key role in the progression of metastatic CRC, yet there is no selective mTORC2 inhibitor in the clinic. Interestingly, a natural plant alkaloid from the Veratrum genus, Veratridine (VTD), shows promise as VTD can upregulate UBXN2A, a colon-specific tumor suppressor protein. UBXN2A works with E3 ligases to ubiquitinate …

Evaluating Inner-Tainment With A Ghetto Perspective For Positive Thought Adjustment In Ghetto Communities, Shontae L. Graham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Environmental challenges and disadvantages impact cognitive scripts and develop persistent frustration. Frustration is both mental and physical and can be negative or positive. It evokes emotion, which is prompted by memory and its associated level of importance. The integration of emotion, memory, and imagination can set the stage and create an act to transition negative frustration and align past experiences with new perspectives. This study used a qualitative Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis approach to investigate the use of self-scripted enactment as a self-help technique for positive thought adjustment. The technique is called Inner-tainment and was used to determine if there were …

Acute Effects Of Olympic Lifting Post-Activation Potentiation On Baseball Pitching Velocity And Ball Flight: A Crossover Study, Brent Hauser Pourciau

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study evaluated the acute effect of an Olympic lifting-based post-activation potentiation (PAP) warm-up on fastball performance in collegiate baseball pitchers. Using a randomized, counterbalanced within-subjects crossover design (N = 13), each participant completed two warm-up conditions in a single indoor session: (a) a standard dynamic baseball warm-up and (b) the same standard warm-up followed by a brief Olympic-lifting PAP sequence (1 x 3 clean pulls at 80% predicted one-repetition maximum [1RM], 1 x 3 power cleans at 80% predicted 1RM, and 1 x 3 power jerks at 60% predicted 1RM, with 2-minute rests between sets) and a 3-minute …

Investigating How Caffeine Affects Perceived Exertion And To What Extent Young Adults Consumers Are Aware Of The Active Ingredients, Brianna Richter

Honors Projects

BACKGROUND: Caffeine is one of the most widely consumed substances in the world, often used to increase energy and alertness. From morning coffee to pre-workout and energy drinks, caffeine has become a daily staple for students, athletes, and working professionals. In recent years, caffeine consumption has increased significantly, with the energy drink and pre-workout industries rapidly expanding. Research has been conducted on the effects of caffeine; however, there is limited research examining how consumer awareness of caffeine products and their additional active ingredients influence perceived exertion and exercise in young adults. PURPOSE: This study investigated the perceived effect of …

Optimizing Itpa R178c Assays Via Hplc, Jared J. Reisnouer, Wally D. Pines

2026 Symposium

Two of the major nucleotide bases in DNA and RNA (Adenine and Guanine) are derived from the purine Inosine Monophosphate (IMP). IMP may occasionally form the noncanonical nucleotide Inosine Triphosphate (ITP) within the cell and become incorporated into DNA during replication, leading to potentially lethal errors. To combat this, human cells produce the “housekeeping” enzyme Inosine Triphosphatase (ITPA) to revert ITP to IMP. A mutation of this protein that replaces the 178th amino acid Arginine with Cysteine (R178C) is associated with a fatal infantile encephalopathy. Previous assessments of enzyme-substrate binding and catalysis for ITPA variants have been run at a …

Amyloid Beta-42 Neurotoxicity In Drosophila Retinal Development, Shay O. Sims, Pierce Duncan, Malachi Abon, Jacob G. Smith

Create@State

Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders globally. Thus far, the underlying mechanisms associated with the pathogenesis of AD are innately elusive. Two hallmarks associated with the progression of AD exist, including Amyloid-Beta 42 (Aβ42) protein plaque formation and hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins in neurons. Amyloid-beta is known to concentrate with other neuronal proteins as complexes form, including the cytoskeletal protein actin. However, whether actin contributes to neuronal decline in AD is unknown. To further understand the cellular cascades associated with AD, we investigated the role of cytoskeleton dynamics in modulating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation within …

Continuous Light And Pinealectomy: Two Models Of Melatonin Deficiency Revealing Distinct Interactions With Vitamin D Deficiency On Blood Parameters, Rebaz Sedeeq Shekh, Ismail Mustafa Maulood

Polytechnic Journal

Modern lifestyles reduce sunlight exposure and increase artificial light at night, potentially promoting vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and melatonin (MEL) suppression. The two hormones regulate immunity, erythropoiesis, and platelet (PLT) indices, but their combined hematological effects are not well characterized. We investigated the independent and combined effects of VDD and MEL deficiency on leukocyte profiles, erythrocyte indices, and PLT parameters in albino rats using two 12-week models (n = 8/group): continuous light (CL)-induced MEL suppression (Control, CL, VDD, and CL + VDD) and pinealectomy (Px)-induced MEL deficiency (Sham. Px, VDD, Px + VDD). Complete blood counts (CBCs) and inflammation-related ratios …

Acute Nitrate Ingestion On Blood Pressure And Lower Body Power In Healthy Females, Sydney N. Brennan, Ryan Tran, Logan J. Dore, Henry C. Nafzger, Justin M. Foster, Kyle S. Geppert, Trevor J. Molnar, Renee M. Skiera, Rylee M. Perlmutter, Mikayla A. Yue, Michael Egiazarian, Christopher B. Sottile, Graciela K. Simpson, Layla A. Busquets, Abigial F. Ballhagen, Adam Pennell, Rachel Tan

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Dietary nitrate supplementation can improve blood pressure and contractile function of type II (fast twitch) muscle fiber contraction and force production. However, limited data are available for  women and dosing guidelines for women. The purpose of this study is to investigate if nitrate ingestion, provided as nitrate-rich beetroot juice, improves blood pressure and countermovement jumps and cycling sprint performance compared to nitrate-depleted beetroot juice placebo in women. Eight recreationally active women have been assigned in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design to three experimental conditions to receive: (1) 2 x 70 ml of concentrated nitrate--depleted beetroot juice placebo (PL; 0.10 mmol …

Hot Cities, Cool Lizards: Do College Campuses Create Urban Oases For Wildlife?, Ethan Heck, Javier Monzon Phd

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Urban wildlife may experience stress due to the Urban Heat Island Effect. On the other hand, urban wildlife may experience relief, especially in arid ecosystems, due to the Urban Oasis Effect. The objective of this study was to test whether college campuses in southern California act as heat islands or oases for wildlife. We analyzed how temperature and water availability of microhabitats relate to the physiology of a widespread and common cold-blooded animal, the Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis). We logged environmental conditions in lizard hotspots at 11 university campuses across southern California and measured the hydration of lizards at …

Test-Retest Reliability Of Commercial Timing Gates (Dashr And Sport React) To Measure Neuromotor And Running Performance And Agility, Kyle S. Geppert, Renee M. Skiera, Caitlin O'Keeffe, Adam Pennell, Rachel Tan

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Commercially-available laser-based timing gates are widely implemented for assessing neuromotor function, speed and agility; however, there is limited available data for the reliability and validity of this equipment. The purpose of this study is to establish the reliability and validity of timing gates from DASHR vs. Sport React compared to a manual stopwatch in a battery of neuromotor, performance and agility tests. Participants will complete 3 x 1-h visits over a 2- to 3-week period in a test-retest design. Participants will perform three rounds of the following tests, with 4-min rest separating each round: two reaction tests (Sport React Choice …

Oxygen Under Pressure: A Comparative Study Of Maximal Oxygen Uptake In Firefighters And Civilians, Jordan N. Hunt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study aimed to investigate and compare V̇O2max levels between firefighters and age-matched individuals from the general population. This study used a quantitative, comparative, cross-sectional design to assess differences in directly measured V̇O2max with a breath-by-breath portable analyzer between firefighters and matched civilians, determine the percentage of firefighters meeting NFPA recommended fitness thresholds, and examine the accuracy of estimated V̇O2max values. A total sample size of 52 participants (26 per group) participated in this study. Firefighters exhibited significantly higher directly measured V̇O2max and V̇O2peak than age-, sex-, and BMI-matched individuals from the general population. Firefighters in this …

Validating Endosomal Antibodies For Use In Immunofluorescence Assays In A Cell-Based Model Of Prader Willi Syndrome, Hayden O'Dell

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare progressive metabolic disease characterized by a wide range of behavioral and cognitive defects, most notably severe hyperphagia. The disorder is caused by the complete loss of some paternally inherited genes on chromosome 15q11-q13, resulting in endocrine dysfunction and a loss of control over feeding behaviors. Among the deleted genes within this region is MAGEL2. Our lab recently characterized a paternally deficient MAGEL2 rat model of PWS, discovering a defect in pituitary secretory capacity that is consistent with the impaired vesicular trafficking and secretion observed in PWS patients. To further characterize the defects in vesicular …

Short Lab Report- Presentation, Wroud Saleh, Yevgeniy Grigoryev

Open Educational Resources

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Dietary Nitrate And Caffeine On End Power And Work Above End Power During A 3 Min All-Out Test In Trained Male Cyclists, Anthony M. Hagele, Kyle Sunderland, Petey W. Mumford, Chad Kerksick

Faculty Scholarship

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of acute dietary nitrate (NO3−) and caffeine (CAF) supplementation on end power (EP) and work performed above EP (WEP) in trained male cyclists during a 3 min all-out test (3MT) on a cycle ergometer.

Methods: Fifteen healthy, trained male cyclists (28.5 ± 5.3 years, 79.2 ± 9.1 kg, VO2peak 55.2 ± 5.6 mL·kg−1·min−1) completed four exercise trials in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study design separated by 3–7 days. The four experimental conditions were placebo beverage (nitrate-depleted) + placebo capsule, nitrate-rich beetroot juice + placebo capsule (BR), …

Electromyography, Prosthetic Properties, And Running Biomechanics In Recreationally Active Persons With Lower Extremity Amputation, Paige M. Agnew

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Lower extremity loss affects nearly 150,000 individuals in the United States yearly yielding extreme health care costs annually. Typically, prosthetic devices are prescribed for 5-8 years despite known changes to an individual’s gait as time progresses. Patients can expect to undergo approximately 8-12 weeks of gait retraining to improve their comfort and efficiency. Biomechanical changes occur when running with a specific running prosthetic including considerable biomechanical and neuromuscular interlimb asymmetries and alterations in loading patterns. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the biomechanical demands for lower extremity prosthesis users during running. The first study synthesized peer reviewed evidence …

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 …

Evaluating Forearm Strength Variability In Collegiate Tennis Players Over The Course Of A Competitive Season, Jeffrey Williams, Payton Jensen, Kevin Laudner

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

The muscles of the forearm undergo routine, forceful, and repetitive contractions while playing tennis and may experience adaptive changes that can precede injury. An understanding of forearm strength profiles of tennis players following a competitive season would assist clinicians’ evidence-based management of the forearm’s readiness for training, competition, and return-to-sport participation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the effects of a competitive tennis season on forearm strength among collegiate tennis athletes. A prospective, case-series design was used to examine a convenience sample of 15 asymptomatic NCAA Division I tennis players (males = 10, height = 182.88 [SD …

Prescribed Aerobic Exercise And Sport-Related Concussion Recovery: A Validation Case Series, Lacy L. Chapel, Tamara C. Valovich Mcleod

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Active rehabilitation, including prescribed sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise implemented during the acute phase of recovery after sport-related concussion, has been shown to facilitate recovery and reduce the risk of persisting postconcussion symptoms. The purpose of this validation case series was to evaluate currently available external evidence regarding the effects of prescribed aerobic exercise interventions on recovery after sport-related concussion. For this study, the patient population included college athletes diagnosed with a sport-related concussion who participated in at least 5 days per week of supervised, prescribed aerobic exercise, based on graded aerobic exercise testing and heart rate threshold. Our study findings …

Quality Of Athletic Training Services For Lower Extremity Injuries, Katie Sniffen, Michael Rozier, Katherine Stamatakis, Paula Buchanan, Janet E. Simon, Leslie Hinyard

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

The use of patient-reported outcomes in athletic training is inconsistent, limiting the ability to communicate service quality and value to key stakeholders. The objective of this study is to calculate meaningful quality outcome measures for athletic training services for lower extremity injuries in high school student-athletes. Data were collected from a subset of the National Athletic Treatment, Injury and Outcomes Network Surveillance Program and a convenience sample of high school student-athletes with patient-reported outcome measures for lower extremity time-loss injuries. Failure-toprogress proportions (FTPPs) were calculated using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) for knee/thigh injuries and the Foot …