Physiology Commons^™

Determining The Genetic Control Of Neural Tube Malformation Through Genetic Interactions With Idgf3, Elli N. Fox

Honors Projects

Genetic mutations disrupting human neural tube formation can lead to birth defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly. Defects can result in lack of neural tube closure in either the caudal (spina bifida) or cranial (anencephaly) regions. Little is known about the genes that cause these malformations. Researchers have been using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster in an attempt to determine genes responsible for neural tube malformations. Recently, an ortholog of human chitin-like protein, imaginal disc growth factor 3 (Idgf3), has been identified as important in the proper formation of Drosophila egg dorsal appendages. However, the molecular mechanism responsible for …

The Effect Of Intensified Illuminance And Artificial Light At Night On Fitness And Susceptibility To Abiotic And Biotic Stressors, Grascen Shidemantle

Biological Sciences Student Scholarship

Changing light conditions due to human activities represents an important emerging environmental concern. Although changes to natural light conditions can be independently detrimental, in nature, organisms commonly face multiple stressors. To understand the consequences of altered light conditions, we exposed a model amphibian (wood frog; Lithobates sylvaticus) to a control and two anthropogenic light conditions: intensified daytime illuminance and artificial light at night - ALAN (intensified daytime illuminance + extended photoperiod). We measured (1) metrics of fitness (hatching success as well as survival to, size at, and time to metamorphosis) (2) susceptibility (time to death) to a commonly cooccurring anthropogenic …

Physiological And Behavioral Correlates Of Hif-1 Alpha Protein Levels In The Gulf Killifish, Fundulus Grandis, Jasmine Harris

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Although the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF) orchestrates molecular responses to low oxygen, the amount of HIF-1α protein expressed during hypoxia varies among species, individuals, and tissues. This study measured HIF-1α protein levels along with several physiological and behavioral variables in the estuarine fish Fundulus grandis under normoxia (> 7 mg l^-1 dissolved oxygen) and hypoxia (1 mg l^-1 dissolved oxygen). Fish under hypoxic conditions had higher tissue levels of HIF-1α, hematocrit, blood glucose, blood lactate, frequency of aquatic surface respiration (ASR), and lower activity than normoxic controls. Under hypoxia, HIF-1α abundance in gill was positively correlated with body …

Kids Don’T Float…And Their Parents Don’T Either: Using A Family-Centered Approach In Alaska’S Kids Don’T Float Program, Michelle E. E. Bauer, Audrey R. Giles, Justina Marianayagam, Kelli M. Toth

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The goal of this experiential report is to outline the adoption of a family-centered Kids Don’t Float approach. We conducted a critical synthesis of information to reflect the expansion of the Kids Don’t Float program into a more family-centered approach. The critical synthesis provided insights into why we should adopt this approach, how it was implemented, and how it influenced drowning incidents compared to the previously used child-centered approach. The adoption of a family-centered approach may contribute to reducing drowning incidents by targeting parents, providing safety information to families, and promoting parental modelling of life jackets. Program evaluators and water …

Motor Behavior Literature Fails To Translate: A Preliminary Investigation Into Coaching And Focus Of Attention In Recreational Distance Runners., Masahiro Yamada, Jed Diekfuss, Louisa Raisbeck

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(5): 789-801, 2020. The benefits of using an external focus relative to an internal focus for endurance activities are well documented. However, literature has revealed that internally focused instructions are predominantly adopted in the field, and existing data are limited to highly-skilled level populations. Moreover, athletes’ focus of attention during fatigue invoking activities is unknown. The purpose of the current study was to examine what type of feedback and instructions experienced recreational individuals receive and their self-adopted focus of attention when fatigued. Distance runners answered a questionnaire related to instruction and feedback from coaches and …

Internal Training Load Measures During A Competitive Season In Collegiate Women Lacrosse Athletes, Jennifer Fields, Michael Esco, Justin Merrigan, Jason White, Margaret T. Jones

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(4): 778-788, 2020. Monitoring internal load provides useful and non-invasive markers of training stress and adaptation. However, the relationship between internal load measures across a competitive window remains inconclusive and limited. The purpose of this study was to report various internal load measures, as well as their relationship, across a season in Division I women lacrosse athletes (n = 20). Ultra-short natural logarithm of the root mean square of successive differences (lnRMSSD), salivary testosterone, cortisol, the testosterone:cortisol ratio, and self-reported measures of fatigue and recovery were collected weekly for 13 weeks. Means ± SD …

Acute Physiologic Effects Of Performing Yoga In The Heat On Energy Expenditure, Range Of Motion, And Inflammatory Biomarkers, Bradley Lambert, Katherine Miller, Domenica Delgado, Kalyan Chaliki, Joshua Lee, Guillermo Bauza, Francesca Taraballi, David Dong, Ennio Tasciotti, Joshua Harris, Patrick Mcculloch

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(3): 802-817, 2020. Performing yoga in a heated environment (HY) is a popular exercise mode purported to improve range of motion (ROM), body composition, and aerobic fitness. The purpose of this investigation was to compare a session of HY to room temperature yoga (RTY) with regards to ROM, oxygen consumption, caloric expenditure, and biomarkers of acute stress and inflammation. Sixteen experienced yoga practitioners (F14, M2; 40 ± 11yr; 22.6 ± 1.8 kg/m²) completed a 1-hour standardized Bikram sequence in HY (105⁰F, 40⁰C) and RTY (74⁰F, 23.3⁰C) conditions (order of conditions randomized, humidity standardized …

Switching Off The Pancreatic Islet: Complex Network Analysis Of Multicellular Clusters, Janita Patwardhan

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Swimming Pool Environment And Respiratory Health Issues Experienced By Masters Swimmers: Results From A Literature Review And Survey Of United States Masters Swimming Clubs, Jody C. Gan, Julia Snegg, William Harder

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

After three members of a Masters adult swim club died of lung cancer, both a literature review and survey were conducted with representatives from 746 United States Masters Swimming clubs to explore a possible relationship between swimming and cancers of the respiratory tract. Six other clubs reported known cancers of the respiratory tract among club members, but none of the other 740 clubs reported a similar cluster of lung cancer. More clubs reported cases of chronic respiratory infections and widespread complaints about air quality. While no studies exploring a relationship between swimming and lung cancer could be found in the …

Comparative Study Of Spectral Sensitivity, Irradiance Sensitivity, Spatial Resolution And Temporal Resolution In The Visual Systems Of Aratus Pisonii And Ocypode Quadrata, Ruchao Qian

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Autrum’s studies (1950, 1958) on terrestrial arthropods first revealed that the visual systems of arthropods reflected their lifestyles and habitats, demonstrating that rapidly moving predatory diurnal species tend to have better temporal resolution than slower moving nocturnal species. In order to test Autrum’s hypothesis that visual adaptions are driven by predator/prey interactions, the visual physiology of a nocturnal fast-moving predatory crab, the Atlantic ghost crab (Ocypode quadrata), and a diurnal herbivorous crab, the mangrove tree crab (Aratus pisonii), was examined and compared. Spectral sensitivity, irradiance sensitivity, and temporal resolution of the crabs were quantified using the …

Swimming Past The Pandemic: Importance Of Evidence-Based Science, Stephen J. Langendorfer Ph.D.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Swimming Past the Pandemic - URL included

Investigatin Actin-Myosin Mechanics To Model Heart Disease Using Fluorescence Microscopy And Optical Trapping, Justin Edward Reynolds

Honors Theses

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a hereditary disease in which the myocardium becomes hypertrophied, making it more difficult for the heart to pump blood. HCM is commonly caused by a mutation in the β-cardiac myosin II heavy chain. Myosin is a motor protein that facilitates muscle contraction by converting chemical energy from ATP hydrolysis into mechanical work and concomitantly moving along actin filaments. Optical tweezers have been used previously to analyze single myosin biophysical properties; however, myosin does not work as a single unit within the heart. Multiple myosin interacts to displace actin filaments and do not have the same properties …

The Impact Of Age/Rage Signaling On Oxidative Stress Under Diabetic Conditions In Cardiac Fibroblasts, Christopher Dorroh

Honors Theses

Diabetes is a major health concern in the United States, with 1.5 million new cases diagnosed each year. Patients who suffer from diabetes have an increased risk of developing heart failure, a form of cardiovascular disease. Heart failure has been shown to result from increased left ventricular stiffness, which in turn is caused by increased remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). This increase in ECM remodeling is a result of AGE/RAGE signaling, which occurs at a heightened level in the cardiac fibroblast cells of diabetics. Studies have shown that diabetics have elevated levels of AGEs (Advanced Glycation End-Products), which bind …

Glucose Metabolism Of Breast Cancer Sub-Clones That Preferentially Metastasize To The Lungs And Bone, Anna G. Skubiz

Honors Theses

Malignant breast cancers exhibit preferential metastasis to bone and lung (1). While changes in gene expression in lung-specific (LM) and bone-specific metastasis (BoM) lines derived from the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer line have been identified, few metabolic genes are differentially expressed; thus it is unknown if tissue-specific metabolic reprogramming occurs. Two hallmarks of cancer cells are an altered metabolic phenotype characterized by enhanced conversion of glucose to lactate in spite of adequate oxygen availability for complete mitochondrial oxidation of this substrate (referred to as aerobic glycolysis or the Warburg effect) and a greater dependence on glutamine. These changes in primary tumor …

Assessment Of Antebrachial And Carpal Muscle Activity During Smartphone Use: Is “Selfie Wrist” A Real Phenomenon?, Monica Stacy

Honors Theses

Reports in the media by celebrities have sparked an interest in a phenomenon being called “selfie-wrist,” in which smartphone users develop symptoms traditionally associated with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). There has been no research to date which investigates the claims of “selfie wrist.” The primary aim of this study was to address the validity of “selfie wrist” claims. The secondary aim of this study was to further investigate the effects of texting on musculoskeletal health, taking into account the differences between texting one-handed versus two-handed, and the effect of using a grip device while texting.

The experiment consisted of an …

The Role Of Central Ace2 And Nrf2 In Sympatho-Excitation: Responses To Central Angiotensin Ii, Anyun Ma

Theses & Dissertations

Sympatho-excitation is a key characteristic in cardiovascular diseases such as chronic heart failure (CHF) and primary Hypertension (HTN). Evidence suggests that increased sympathetic tone is closely related to activation of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone system (RAAS) in the central nervous system. An underlying mechanism for sympatho-excitation is thought to be oxidative stress resulting from Angiotensin II (AngII) type 1 receptor (AT1R) activation. Over the past several decades, pharmacological targeting of components of the RAAS have been used as standard therapy in CHF and HTN. However, additional therapeutic strategies are necessary to control these diseases. Oxidative stress is regulated, in part, by the …

Preparation For An Half-Ironmantm Triathlon Amongst Amateur Athlete: Finishing Rate And Physiological Adaptation., Francois Lalonde, Sarah-Maude Martin, Vincent Gosselin Boucher, Marc Gosselin, Mélanie Roch, Alain Steve Comtois

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(6): 766-777, 2020. Long distance triathlon has gained in popularity amongst the general population. Coaches establish training programs based upon their knowledge, personal experience and on current training principles. The goal was to observe the effect of a triathlon training program for a half Ironman event in neophyte amateur athletes. A specific triathlon training program was followed from February to June 2016 by a group preparing for their first half ironman. Out of the 32 participants (19 Males and 13 Females; mean age of 39 ± 9.9 years old; body weight of 72.7 ± 13.4 …

Acute Capsaicin Analog Supplementation Improves 400 M And 3000 M Running Time-Trial Performance, Lasaro Albuquerque Costa, Marcelo Conrado De Freitas, Jason Cholewa, Fabio Nakamura, Valeria Panissa, Vilton Emanoel Lopes De Moura E Silva Vilton Emanoel Lopes De Moura E Silva, Alcione Maria B Sá, Priscila A. Queiroz, Sergio Luis Galan, Marcos Antonio P Santos, Nelo E. Zanchi, Fabio Santos Lira, Fabricio Eduardo Rossi

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(2): 755-765, 2020. Objectives: Performance in running-based sport depends on the ability to perform repetitive high intensity muscle contractions. Previous studies have shown that capsaicin analog (CAP) (i.e. Capsiate) supplementation may improve this performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effect of CAP supplementation on short (400 m) and middle distance (3000 m) running time-trial performance, maximum heart rate (HR), and rate of perceived exertion (RPE). Methods: Twelve physically active men completed four randomized, double-blind trials: CAP condition (12 mg) or a placebo condition. Forty-five minutes after supplementation, the participants performed …

Characterizing The Role Of Β-Amylase3 In Cold Stress Response And Recovery In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Isabelle G. Houston

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Starch is a polymer of glucose that is used as an energy store in plants. Mobilization of starch has implications in abiotic stress survival and recovery. While the importance of carbon and energy allocation in plant survival has been explored, the specific roles of starch degrading enzymes in plant responses to stress are still unclear. β-Amylase3, or BAM3, is the principle starch degrading enzyme at night and is transcriptionally upregulated in response to cold stress in the plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Using single and quadruple knockout mutant plants, I aimed to clarify the role of BAM3 in the response to …

Effect Of Ambient Temperature On Recovery Of Surgically Instrumented Sprague-Dawley Rats, Gianna Mangone

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Based on current guidelines for housing rodents after surgical instrumentation, rodents may be housed at temperatures that hinder surgical recovery and cause thermal stress– room temperature (21°C) being one of them. Rodents are often housed at room temperature since this temperature is easy for humans to be caring for them. However, if recovering rodents are thermally stressed, experimental results will be confounded. To address this issue, Sprague-Dawley rats were surgically instrumented with radiotelemtry thermoprobes (Data Sciences, #TA-10F40) to monitor their core temperatures, then housed at one of five temperatures to assess the effect ambient temperature had on multiple aspects of …