Physiology Commons^™

Cloning The Ultrabithorax Gene In Tribolium Castaneum, Kara I. Ludlow, Dr. Randy Bennett

Journal of Undergraduate Research

My original proposal was to clone the extradenticle gene in Tribolium castaneum (red flour beetle); however, I worked in conjunction with Laura Newell who received an ORCA grant to work with Dr. Bennett cloning the Ultrabithorax gene of the red flour beetle. To further previous research, it was determined that the Ultrabithorax gene needed to be cloned first, so Laura and I worked on that project together. Due to complications and unexpected delays, we were only able to finish cloning the Ultrabithorax gene of the beetle and did not have time to clone the extradenticle gene, as well.

Physiological And Biochemical Consequences Of Sleep Deprivation, Jade Catherine Boykin

Honors College Theses

Sleep is a universal phenomenon in vertebrates and lack of sleep has been linked with various abnormal behaviors (Singh et al 2013). Studies have shown that a strong linkage exists between stress and sleep, or lack thereof. In fact, the Better Sleep Council’s 2009 survey revealed that 65% of Americans lose sleep due to elevated stress (Wells and Vaughn 2012). Continual (chronic) elevated stress levels have been linked with serious negative health effects. By using sleep deprivation studies, on a simpler animal model than humans it is our aim to investigate the consequences of sleep deprivation at the physiological and …

Gpr55: A Potential Enhancer Of Learning And Memory In The Hippocampus, Rachel Schneider, Dr. Jeff Edwards

Journal of Undergraduate Research

My project goal was to understand how G-protein coupled receptor 55, (GPR55), a novel cellular pathway in the hippocampus, contributes to learning and memory. Recent research of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s, has primarily focused on understanding how learning occurs and how memories are encoded within the brain. Understanding the process in a normal brain and then how it is disrupted in a diseased brain is essential to making headway on treatments for neurodegeneration. Some studies have shown that to encode memories, the brain changes neural synapses to either strengthen or weaken the electrical pathways, which is a process known as …

Ceramides, Mitochondrial Fission, And Reactive Oxygen Species, A Novel Mechanism Of Obesity-Induced Insulin Resistance, Braden Tucker, Dr. Benjamin Bikman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

With the unabated rise in obesity in the United States and globally (1), increasing efforts are being devoted to understand and prevent both the onset and the consequences of excess fat gain. As evidenced by health trends, efforts to curtail weight gain have proven largely ineffective, as the number of obese adults in the U.S. is projected to grow by 2.4 million annually (2). The increased prevalence of obesity would not be noteworthy if such a trend were not accompanied by a substantial economic and personal cost—medical costs are roughly $150 billion annually and obese individuals may expect a loss …

Histological Validation Of Alzheimer’S Disease And Cerebrovascular Disease Imaging Biomarkers, Brigham Barzee, Brett Gardiner, Dr. Jon Wisco

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this study is to analyze spatial co-localizations between amyloid beta (Aβ), tau, and iron in postmortem brains of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) patients. Iron is readily visible in T2* magnetic resonance images (MRI), and has been shown to be spatially correlated with Aβ plaques in AD. Neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein are also associated with AD, and Aβ plaques are also found in the walls of the vessels in CVD. If iron co-localizes with Aβ, then the location of the iron—parenchyma vs. sulci—as seen in MRI could reveal if the disease is possibly AD …

Expression Of Htra1 And Tgfb1 In Osteoarthritis, Karl Andersen, Dr. David Kooyman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Osteoarthritis increasingly debilitates and causes discomfiture to millions of people worldwide. Most people over 65 years of age suffer from symptoms of osteoarthritis. There has, up to this point, been effectively no clear understanding of the processes of the body that contribute genetically or mechanically to this severe condition. The result of this lack of knowledge is a general absence of prevention and treatment measures. As of today, treatments consist only of joint replacement and pain reduction measures.

Computerized Drug Screening Of The S31n Mutant Of The Influenza A Virus, Mitchell Gleed, David D. Busath

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Influenza is responsible for millions of hospitalizations and deaths every year. Treating the influenza virus has become increasingly difficult since mutant viruses have rendered previously viable drugs ineffective. New drug-screening procedures are now necessary in order to speed up the process of viable drug discovery. Molecular simulations have proven valuable for studying drug effectiveness in wild-type flu viruses, but little has been done on prevailing influenza mutants. Influenza mutants often feature a change in the M2 proton channel, a critical component in the viral replication and infection cycle. To counter this, drugs must be discovered that can block the influenza …

Protein Signaling Effects On Embryonic Limb Formation, Derrick Crawford, Dr. Jeffery Barrow

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Congenital limb malformations occur in approximately 1 in 500 live births. These defects are due largely because of genetic and developmental causes. In my experiments, I have researched the source of these defects to understand how cell to cell signaling affects digit and limb formation. I was able to manipulate signaling between limb tissues during development to understand better how proteins interact with each other to stimulate growth in chick embryos. These same proteins have been observed in mammals such as mice and hopefully in the future may be applied in human development as well. There are many key factors …

Increased Circulatory Lipopolysaccharide From A High Fat Diet Aggravates Inflammation And Exacerbates Renal Failure, Samuel Righi

Theses and Dissertations

Kidney failure is frequently associated with the risk factors linked to metabolic syndrome. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent inflammatory molecule, which has increased absorption from the gut into blood circulation following a high fat and high-energy diet. We hypothesized that LPS from a high fat diet can amplify inflammation, thereby exacerbating chronic kidney disease and associated disorders. We have found that adding a high fat diet to renal insufficient mice significantly progressed their kidney disease as well as associated disorders, compared to both a high fat diet and renal insufficiency alone. Additionally, we were able to demonstrate in vitro that …

Differences Between Men And Women In Percentage Of Body Weight Supported During Push-Up Exercise, Constance M. Mier, Tal Amasay, Steven Capehart, Heather Garner

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 7(2) : 161-168, 2014. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of push-up method (standard vs modified) and gender on percentage of body weight supported. Thirty seven men and women completed five push-ups in the standard (SPU) and modified (MPU) positions, and 5-sec hold (static) in the up (elbow extension) and down (elbow flexion) positions. Vertical ground reaction forces (expressed as load relative to body weight) were measured using force platforms. From a video-captured image, a computer software distance tool measured vertical range of motion (ROM) achieved in the down position expressed …

The Critical Power Concept And Bench Press: Modeling 1rm And Repetitions To Failure, R Hugh Morton, Matthew D. Redstone, Daniel J. Laing

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 7(2) : 152-160, 2014. Introduction: We demonstrate application of the 3-parameter critical power (CP) model derived for cycling and running, to performance at bench press exercise. We apply the model to both performance of a single repetition maximum (1RM) and multiple repetitions (reps) to failure at different sub-maximal weights. Methods: Sixteen weight-trained young adult male participants each performed a modified YMCA 1RM test and four sets of fixed cadence reps to failure at different sub-maximal weights. The CP model equation takes the form: n = ALC/(m – CL) + ALC/(CL – Lmax,), where n is …

Racial Comparisons In Police Officer Bench Press Strength Over 12.5 Years, Robert W. Boyce, Tyler K. Willett, Glenn R. Jones, Edward L. Boone

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 7(2) : 140-151, 2014. Strength, when considering gender and race, provides a basis for training, hiring, and retention for police officers. The purpose of this study is to identify muscular strength differences among racial groups from initial-recruit to in-service tests. Strength variables included bench press, bench press/lean mass and bench press/body mass. Scores were retrieved for the 1990 to 1995 recruit classes and were paired to the 2006 in-service fitness log. Sample included 309 officers: 30 females (13 black, 17 white) and 279 males (41 black, 238 white). Mean age of recruit was 24.6 ± …

Manuscript Has Been Retracted, Michael Smith, Eric Trexler, Allan Sommer, Brooke Starkoff, Steven Devor

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 7(2) : 128-139, 2014. Manuscript has been retracted.

Development Of A Prediction Equation For Vertical Power In Masters Level Basketball Athletes, Jordan M. Glenn, Jennifer Vincenzo, Michelle Gray, Ashley Binns

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 7(2) : 119-127, 2014. Performance factors such as power, agility, and speed are important in sport-based competition for older individuals. Prediction models that assess these factors in masters level competitors are limited. The purpose of this study was to examine physical field measures of agility and speed and their ability to predict vertical power (VP) among basketball masters athletes(MA). Thirty-eight competitive MA from a Midwest Senior Olympic basketball tournament performed vertical jump, 20-yard dash (20-D), 40-yard dash (40-D), and T-test (TT) assessments. Regression analysis revealed a significant relationship (p = .002) using TT and …

Factors Associated With Diabetes Risk In South Texas College Students, Jordan W. Stack, Sara E. Mahoney, Christopher M. Hearon

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 7(2) : 110-118, 2014. South Texas has a high prevalence of diabetes and college students may be particularly at risk. While increased BMI, sedentary activity and depression have been associated with diabetes progression in the general population, it has not been established whether these factors contribute to increased diabetes risk in college students. The purpose of this study was to assess diabetes risk and determine whether depressive symptoms or physical activity patterns are associated with increased diabetes risk in college students. Sixty-nine college students were assessed for diabetes risk using the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score …

The Role Of High School Physical Activity Experience In College Students’ Physical Activity Motivation, Joseph S. Madonia, Anne E. Cox, Melissa L. Zahl

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 7(2) : 98-109, 2014. This study tested the role of past physical activity mode in predicting physical activity motivation of first year college students. Consistent with self-determination theory, perceived competence and autonomy were expected to mediate the relationships of specific types of physical activity engaged in during high school to autonomous motivation for physical activity in college. College students (N = 124; M_age= 18.42, SD = 0.51) completed an online questionnaire that assessed frequency of engagement in different modes of physical activity during their final year of high school (i.e., competitive sport, …

Host-Parasite Interactions In An Invasive Songbird, Courtney A.C. Coon

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduced species are the greatest threat to biodiversity after habitat loss. Understanding the processes that permit organisms to become successful invaders may provide opportunities to prevent or limit their dispersal and establishment and thereby alleviate some of their harmful effects. The goal of my dissertation research has been to investigate whether invasive species have distinctive interactions with parasites, and some of the mechanisms that may underlie that variation. I used one of the world's most successful vertebrate invaders as a case study: the house sparrow (Passer domesticus; Introduction).

Previous research in the house sparrow suggested that loss of …

The Role Of Trpv1 In Hippocampal Plasticity, Andrew Wallmann, Dr. Jeff Edwards

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Until recently, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind memory has been extremely limited. However, recent studies indicate that memory formation is associated with two forms of neuronal plasticity known as long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) (Bailey & Kandel, 2008). These are physiological processes that essentially alter the strength of a synapse between two neurons and are of particular importance in the brain region called the hippocampus. The hippocampus is heavily associated with learning and memory and is a frequent target of research for this reason. A novel form of LTP has recently been found within the hippocampus …

Over-Expression Of Age Receptors In The Adult Mouse Lung A New Model For The Study Of Copd, Megan Stogsdill, Dr. Paul Reynolds

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Receptors for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) are receptors that can bind a variety of ligands and are members of the immunoglobin family of cell surface receptors. RAGE is found in many tissue types during inflammatory lesions but is found most abundantly in the lung, where it was subsequently discovered (1). It is known to bind to chemicals found in cigarette smoke (2) and has been implicated as a progression factor in a number of diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (3).

The Distribution Of The Alpha 5 Nachr Subunits In The Mouse Lung, Jason Porter, Dr. Paul Reynolds

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The study of developing tissues is extremely important in the field of biology. Each organ in the body adheres to an extremely complex and organized development process involving specific signaling molecules and pathways. Pulmonary development is no exception. Lung development adheres to intimately orchestrated processes that require precisely regulated reciprocal interactions between developing respiratory epithelium and the surrounding splanchnic mesenchyme. Proper lung development involves both spatial and temporal control of a myriad of factors including transcription factors, growth factors, cell surface receptors, and extracellular matrix constituents. My hypothesis when I began this project was that a5 subunits are expressed in …

Aer Signals Outgrowth Of Mesenchyme Cells, Owen Owens, Dr. Jeffery R. Barrow

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Apical Ectodermal Ridge has been of great interest to those studying the development of the mammalian limb every since it was discovered that the AER is vital to the formation of correct limb patterning and general limb formation. The AER is a ridge of cells located on the tip of the mammalian limb where it signals inner cells, called mesenchyme during development. This study analyzed proliferation, or cell dividing, and apoptosis, or programmed cell death, of mesenchymal cells in the hope to support the hypothesis that the AER signals mesenchymal cells to migrate, not proliferate or undergo apoptosis. We …

Upr Contributes To Osteoarthritis In The Bardet-Biedl Syndrome Mouse Model, David Nolte, Dr. David Kooyman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent form of arthritis, affecting more than 26 million people in the United States1. The condition decreases mobility and causes pain. Furthermore, the spending for medical treatment of osteoarthritis is increasing quickly: Spending doubled from 1994 to 2005. With the increasing age of the U.S. population, prevalence of OA is expected to continue rising1. Thus it is important to find effective treatments to alleviate symptoms and/or prevent osteoarthritis. Recent research has shown that osteoarthritis involves more than just the cartilage of the joint. Synovium and adipose tissue contribute to the breakdown of articular cartilage2. Also, …

Synaptic Plasticity In The Rodent Hippocampus Involvement Of Trpv1 In Plasticity Of Area Ca1, Jared Weed, Dr. Jeffrey Edwards

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The hippocampus is the area of the brain where long-term declarative memories are formed. Synaptic plasticity, the long-term strengthening or weakening of the synapse (the connection between two neurons), is the proposed cellular mechanism for the process of memory formation. The two types of synaptic plasticity are long-term potentiation (LTP), in which a synapse becomes strengthened; and long-term depression (LTD), in which a synapse becomes weakened.

Mechanisms In Learning And Memory, Michael Mcneil, Dr. Jeffrey Edwards

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Endocannabinoids are molecules that play an important role in neuromodulation and are also known to be a factor in many peripheral nervous system functions such as appetite and pain sensation. Recent discoveries have also shown that endocannabinoids and their cell-signaling mechanisms are found within the central nervous system, specifically within the hippocampus, an active component of declarative or explicit memory, yet their role in the CNS is largely unknown. Within the hippocampus there are two main categories of neurons, the pyramidal cells and the interneurons, and both are critical for hippocampal function. However, the interneurons appear to be involved in …

Researching The Effects Of Osteoarthritis As A Systemic Immune Response, Danielle Peterson, Dr. David Kooyman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Our bodies are dynamic structures that do not operate as individual compartments, but as a whole. When something goes awry in one specific tissue or organ, specific signals from that diseased area are released affect other tissues. I received an ORCA grant last year to study my hypothesis that degradation of Osteoarthritis (OA) is primarily associated with a systemic immune response to trauma of articular cartilage. In order to verify this hypothesis, a treatment that creates OA in one localized area while other tissues remained undamaged was needed. The OA genetic mutant mice that researchers normally turn to couldn’t be …

Localizing Endocannabinoid Receptors Gpr55 And Gpr119 To Subtypes Of Neurons In The Hippocampus, Ryan Williamson, Dr. Jeff Edwards

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The hippocampus is the part of the brain that mediates learning and memory by altering the function of synapses within its circuitry via intracellular signaling molecules. The ability of synapses to change is called synaptic plasticity. Hippocampal synaptic plasticity can be mediated by endogenous lipid-based signaling molecules called endocannabinoids (eCBs) [3]. Two of the best studied eCBs are anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG). Physiology data suggests that AEA may mediate synaptic plasticity in neurons of the stratum radiatum region of the hippocampus by binding to an unclassified G protein-coupled receptor called GPR55 [2,3,4,5]. Additionally, another unclassified G-protein coupled receptor, …

The Role Of The Apical Ectodermal Ridge, David Barnes, Dr. Jeffery Barrow

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Limb formation in tetra pods, animals with four legs, starts with the outgrowth of lateral plate mesoderm at the level of both forelimb and hind limb. A ridge of ectodermal tissue located at the distal margin, named the apical ectodermal ridge (AER), plays an essential role for the outgrowth and patterning of limbs. Patterning is defined as molecular or morphological differences that are established along an axis. The limb is patterned along each of its three axes: along the proximal to distal (PD) axis, the nature of the limb changes from humerus/femur (stylopod) to radius, ulna/tibia, fibula (zeugopod), to hand/foot …

The Nectin-Zyxin Interaction’S Role In Emt, Bradley Scott Colton, Dr. Marc Hansen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of our experiment was to prove the interactions between three different proteins named nectin, zyxin, and VASP. It is thought that these proteins are involved in forming interactions with the actin cytoskeleton between neighboring cells and add to the cell adhesion between cells in an epithelial layer of cells. Normally cells need to stick together to function together as a layer of cells. One of the characteristics of cancer is when cells break these cell-to-cell adhesions in order to migrate to different areas of the body and set up new tumor sites. This process is known as epithelialmesenchymal …

Rage Expression In Inflammatory Lung Diseases Triggered By Air Pollutants, Tyler Earley, Dr. Paul Reynolds

Journal of Undergraduate Research

I was given a research grant of $1,500. My project was centered around discovery of cellsignaling pathways linked to inflammation specific to the lung. We studied a receptor that may be shown to integrally participate in inflammation in such diseases as COPD and Asthma. My studies followed Receptors for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) which have been implicated in mechanisms of sustained pulmonary inflammation associated with several pathological conditions. This project sought to investigate the direct interaction of particulate matter and RAGE as well as RAGE’s role in perpetuating an inflammatory response in epithelial cells resident to the respiratory tract. This …

Regulation Of P450scc Expression: Ampk And Cortisol Release, Kimberly Dalton, Dr. Allan Judd

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The amount of cortisol within the human body must remain at just the right level to adequately mediate the physiological stress response. With elevated cortisol levels, the immune system is suppressed, and the organism becomes vulnerable to infection. With reduced cortisol levels, the immune system is hyperactive, and the organism becomes vulnerable to autoimmune disorders. Too much or too little cortisol is lethal: clearly, cortisol levels have a great effect on human pathophysiology. The project I did provided one step in the mission to characterize the mechanism behind cortisol release. Once this is done, we will have a more thorough …