Physiology Commons^™

Characterization Of Altered Epithelial Cell Turnover And Differentiation In Embryonic Murine Lungs That Over-Express Receptors For Advanced Glycation End-Products (Rage), Jeffrey Alan Stogsdill

Theses and Dissertations

Receptors for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) are multi-ligand cell surface receptors highly expressed in the lung that modulate pulmonary inflammation during disease. However, the contributions of RAGE signaling are unknown during pulmonary organogenesis. In order to test the hypothesis that RAGE misexpression adversely affects lung morphogenesis, conditional transgenic mice were generated that over-express RAGE in alveolar type II cells of the lung. When RAGE is over-expressed throughout embryogenesis, severe lung hypoplasia ensues, culminating in perinatal lethality. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry employing cell-specific markers for various distal cell types demonstrated anomalies in key epithelial cell populations resulting from RAGE up-regulation through …

Mechanism Of Inhibition Of Influenza A Virus M2 Proton Channel, Douglas Randall Bretzing, Victoria Man-Fung Burr

Faculty Publications

The influenza A virus integral membrane protein, M2, is a proton-conducting channel. The ability of influenza A virus to unpack its genome, replicate, and infect its host is contingent upon the M2-mediated acidification of the viral interior. The antiviral drugs amantadine and rimantadine were previously effective in blocking proton influx through M2; however, mutations in the proton channel have rendered these drugs ineffective. Multiple models for the inhibiting mechanism of the adamantane drugs have been hypothesized. In an attempt to better understand the mechanism of M2 inhibition, and ultimately to assist in the development of a replacement M2-targeting antiviral drug, …

The Effects Of Rectal Temperature And Hydration Status On Perceptual Ratings In Dehydrating Males, Ethan A. Talbot

Honors Scholar Theses

Athletes push the limits of what the human body can handle every day. When they exercise in the heat, they can attain dangerous levels of internal temperature and dehydration. Since athletes are sometimes not aware when they are experiencing severe hyperthermia or hypohydration, it is of interest to anyone who exercises in the heat to study whether athletes are consciously aware that they are approaching dangerous physiological limits. This study compares the perceptual values of athletes exercising in the heat to the changes in their internal temperature and hydration status, to see if athletes can reliably predict their heat and …

Evidence For Pit-Type (Slc20) And Napi-Ii-Type (Slc34) Transporters In The Rat Choroid Plexus, Hien M. Le

Honors Scholar Theses

: A major function of the brain choroid plexus (CP) is to regulate the exchange of solutes between the blood plasma and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using selective transporters. CSF inorganic phosphate (P_i) concentration is maintained at about one-half that of plasma and is potentially important because of its regulatory, structural, and biochemical functions. Phosphate is critical for ATP and DNA formation, the linked regulation between phosphate and calcium, and as an intracellular buffer. The human body has two major P_i transporter gene families known as SLC34 (NaPi-II) and SLC20 (PiT), which have wide tissue distribution. Although …

Effects Of Microgravity On Mucin Production In The Urinary Bladder In Mice., Brandon Farmer

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The effects of the microgravity of spaceflight are largely unexplored with regard to biological tissues. One particular area of interest is the possible effects microgravity could have on the production of mucins. To determine the possible effects of microgravity on mucin production in the urinary bladder, we examined the transitional epithelium of the urinary bladder from female mice that were flown on the space shuttle Endeavour for 12 days in August, 2007. The flight tissue was compared to tissues from two control groups of animals, ground control and baseline. This study utilized three sets of female mice, with each set …

Phylogeny Of Panthera, Including P. Atrox, Based On Cranialmandibular Characters, Leigha M. King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the past 20 years both morphological and molecular phylogenies have been proposed for extant and extinct members of the family Felidae. However, there remain several discrepancies, particularly within the genus Panthera and the position of Panthera atrox. Consequently, morphologic characters from the skull and dentary were analyzed within Panthera (including all extant and one extinct taxa) to gain a better understanding of pantherine phylogeny. Multiple specimens of each taxon were analyzed, including: P. leo, P. tigris, P. onca, P. pardus , Uncia uncia, and Neofelis nebulosa. Four outgroups were used; Crocuta crocuta, Metailurus ssp., Proailurus lemanensis …

Actical Accelerometry Cut-Points For Quantifying Levels Of Exertion: Comparing Normal And Overweight Adults, Jamie Giffuni, Robert G. Mcmurray, Todd Schwartz, Diane Berry

International Journal of Exercise Science

Int J Exerc Sci 5(2) : 170-182, 2012. Weight, body fatness and ambulatory pattern all have the potential to affect accelerometer output and cause differences in output between overweight and normal-weight adults. The purpose of this study was to determine if Actical (Philips Respironics, Bend, OR) activity count cut-points for moderate and vigorous intensity exercise are different for overweight adults compared to normal-weight adults. Overweight adults with BMI >25 kg/m² (n=29) and Normal-Weight adults (n=25) walked at 3.2 and 4.8 km∙h^-1 and ran at 6.4 km∙h^-1 on a treadmill while simultaneously wearing an Actical accelerometer and obtaining measurements …

Physiologic Responses, Liking And Motivation For Playing The Same Video Game On An Active Versus A Traditional, Non-Active Gaming System., Gabriel J. Sanders, Antonia S. Santo, Corey A. Peacock, Kyle-Patrick Von Carlowitz, Megan L. Williamson, Jacob E. Barkley

International Journal of Exercise Science

Int J Exerc Sci 5(2) : 160-169, 2012. Evidence suggests that individuals playing certain video games on the Nintendo Wii® (Wii) exhibit increased energy expenditure versus traditional video games, although little research examines non-Wii Sports/Fit games. The purpose of this study is to assess physiologic responses, liking, and the relative reinforcing value (RRV) of a popular, non-Wii sports video game for the Wii relative to the same game played on a traditional, non-active system. Twenty-four college-aged students participated. Heart rate and oxygen consumption (O₂) was assessed during rest and when playing the following games: Madden NFL 2011® for …

The Time-Course Of The Effects Of Growth Hormone During Zebrafish (Danio Rerio) Auditory Hair Cell Regeneration, Yajie Wang

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Growth hormone (GH) was upregulated in the zebrafish inner ear following sound exposure in a previous study. To identify the specific role of GH in hair cell regeneration and the possible cellular mechanisms of this regeneration, groups of zebrafish were divided into baseline (no sound exposure, no injection), buffer-injected and GH-injected groups. Buffer- and GH-injected fish were exposed to a 150 Hz tone at a source level of 179 dB re 1 μPa root mean squared (RMS) for 36 h. Phalloidin-staining was used to assess the effects of GH on hair cell bundle density; BrdU-labeling was used to assess the …

Test-Retest Reliability Of Noninvasive Ambulatory Impedance Cardiography During Aerobic Exercise, Benjamin Germain

HIM 1990-2015

Impedance cardiography is an important tool in determining a person's hemodynamic properties. The makers obtained through thoracic impedance have been shown to be of great importance when monitoring critical care patients. Technological developments have made this process noninvasive and ambulatory, opening up new possibilities for potential use. A study was conducted by remotely monitoring healthy subjects (n=5), who performed an 8-minute mild-to-moderate aerobic exercise protocol, followed up by a four minute cognitive stress test. Testing was conducted onsite at Kennedy Space Center in association with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration using the MW1000A (MindWare Technologies LTD, Gahanna, OH) ambulatory …

Role Of Trp Channels In Mediating The Calcium Signaling Response Of Brain Endothelial Cells To Mechanical Stretch, Jonathan Berrout

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often results in disruption of the blood brain barrier (BBB), which is an integral component to maintaining the central nervous system homeostasis. Recently cytosolic calcium levels ([Ca²⁺]i), observed to elevate following TBI, have been shown to influence endothelial barrier integrity. However, the mechanism by which TBI-induced calcium signaling alters the endothelial barrier remains unknown. In the present study, an in vitro BBB model was utilized to address this issue. Exposure of cells to biaxial mechanical stretch, in the range expected for TBI, resulted in a rapid cytosolic calcium increase. Modulation of intracellular and extracellular …

Regulation Of Protein Degradation In The Heart By Amp-Activated Protein Kinase, Kedryn K. Baskin, Kedryn K. Baskin

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The degradation of proteins by the ubiquitin proteasome system is essential for cellular homeostasis in the heart. An important regulator of metabolic homeostasis is AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). During nutrient deprivation, AMPK is activated and intracellular proteolysis is enhanced through the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). Whether AMPK plays a role in protein degradation through the UPS in the heart is not known. Here I present data in support of the hypothesis that AMPK transcriptionally regulates key players in the UPS, which, under extreme conditions can be detrimental to the heart. The ubiquitin ligases MAFbx /Atrogin-1 and MuRF1, key regulators of …

Exercise-Induced Neuroprotection In A Hemiparkinsonian 6-Hydroxydopamine Rat Model, Merrill Russen Landers

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Outside of finding a cure, one of the preeminent goals of research in Parkinson's disease (PD) is finding a neuroprotective treatment that when applied prior to the onset of the disease will decrease the risk and severity of the subsequent disease. One such treatment that has potential as a neuroprotective agent in PD is exercise. Several studies have found forced exercise to be protective of Parkinson's disease in adult rodent models; however, few of these studies have used a design wherein voluntary exercise was evaluated. Moreover, no study has used a true neuroprotective design in which exercise was applied prior …

Acute Effects Of Antagonist Stretching On Jump Height And Knee Extension Peak Torque, John B. Sandberg

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

There has been a great deal of research investigating the effects of stretching preceding strength training, jumping and running. Static stretching, as the name implies, involves stretching a muscle and holding the stretch with minimal or no movement for a given duration. Several studies have shown that static stretching before strength training or jumping can actually result in poorer performances. Static stretching may reduce the nervous system’s ability to recruit muscles or it may reduce the ability of the muscle to produce force directly.

All major skeletal muscles have an opposing or antagonist muscle that acts in opposition to it. …

A Case Study Of Professors' And Instructional Designers' Experiences In The Development Of Online Courses, Karl B. Stevens

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The objective of this study was to examine the experiences of instructional designers and professors during their efforts to develop online courses and to determine what effect their experiences had on the development process. Five professors and five instructional designers at Utah State University participated in this qualitative, single-case study. Participants were purposefully selected as matched pairs of development teams based on their respective levels of expertise in course development.

The ADDIE instructional design model was used as a conceptual framework to which emergent themes were aligned. ADDIE is an acronym for analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. The key …

Iron Deficiency Causes A Shift In Amp-Activated Protein Kinase (Ampk) Catalytic Subunit Composition In Rat Skeletal Muscle, John Merrill

Theses and Dissertations

To determine effects of iron deficiency on AMPK activation and signaling, as well as the AMPKα subunit composition in skeletal muscle, rats were fed a control (C=50-58 mg/kg Fe) or iron deficient (ID=2-6 mg/kg Fe) diet for 6-8 wks. Their respective hematocrits were 47.5% ± 1.0 and 16.5% ± 0.6. Iron deficiency resulted in 28.3% greater muscle fatigue (p<0.01) in response to 10 min of stimulation (1 twitch/sec) and was associated with a greater reduction in phosphocreatine (C: Resting 24.1 ± 0.9 micromol/g, Stim 13.1 ± 1.5 micromol/g; ID: Resting 22.7 ± 1.0 micromol/g, Stim 3.2 ± 0.7 micromol/g; p<0.01) and ATP levels (C: Resting 5.89 ± 0.48 micromol/g, Stim 6.03 ± 0.35 micromol/g; ID: Resting 5.51 ± 0.20 micromol/g, Stim 4.19 ± 0.47 micromol/g; p<0.05). AMPK activation increased with stimulation in muscles of C and ID animals. A reduction in Cytochrome c and other iron-dependent mitochondrial proteins was observed in ID animals (p<0.01). The AMPK catalytic subunit (alpha) was also examined because both isoforms are known to play different roles in responding to energy challenges. In ID animals, AMPK alpha2 subunit protein content was reduced to 71.6% of C (p<0.05), however this did not result in a significant difference in resting AMPK alpha2 activity. AMPK alpha1 protein was unchanged, however an overall increase in AMPK alpha1 activity was observed (C: 0.91 pmol/mg/min; ID: 1.63 pmol/mg/min; p<0.05). Resting phospho Acetyl CoA Carboxylase (pACC) was unchanged. This study indicates that chronic iron deficiency causes a shift in the expression of AMPK alpha subunit composition and potentially altered sensitivity to cellular energy challenges.

The Use Of The Blood Lactate Curve To Develop Training Intensity Guidelines For The Sports Of Track And Field And Cross-Country, Chris P. Belcher, Cynthia L. Pemberton

International Journal of Exercise Science

Int J Exerc Sci 5(2) : 148-159, 2012. The purpose of this study was to develop and field test a standardized system of training intensity guidelines for the sport of track and field/cross country, modeled after the standardized system of training intensity guidelines developed, adopted, and in use by U.S.A. Swimming. This study was quantitative and focused on the development and field-testing of standardized training intensity guidelines, based on the blood lactate curve and energy metabolism. The findings showed that as intensity increased so did participants’ blood lactate concentration, heart rate, and ratings of perceived exertion. A Pearson product-moment correlation …

Effects Of Short Term Low Intensity Resistance Training With Blood Flow Restriction On Bone Markers And Muscle Cross-Sectional Area In Young Men, Sojung Kim, Vanessa D. Sherk, Michael G. Bemben, Debra A. Bemben

International Journal of Exercise Science

Int J Exerc Sci 5(2) : 136-147, 2012. This study compared the effects of short term resistance training with and without blood flow restriction (BFR) on bone turnover markers and muscle cross-sectional area (MCSA) in young men (18-35 yrs). Subjects were randomly assigned to a BFR (20% 1RM) resistance training group (BFRT, n=10), a high intensity (80% 1RM) resistance training group (RT, n=10), or a BFR only group (BFR, n=10). Both BFRT and RT trained 3 days per week (2 sets, 10 repetitions) for 3 weeks for leg press, knee extension, and knee flexion isotonic exercises. BFR underwent the BFR …

Sam: A Tool For Measurement Of Moderate To Vigorous Physical Activity (Mvpa) In School Physical Education, Kampol Surapiboonchai, Steven R. Furney, Robert F. Reardon, James Eldridge, Tinker D. Murray

International Journal of Exercise Science

Int J Exerc Sci 5(2) : 127-135, 2012. Observational methods have been a primary methodology used by physical educators for assessing teacher and student behaviors in school physical education (PE) classes for over 30 years. Observational instruments traditionally used in PE are economical, but are time intensive and complicated. Recently national PE recommendations have been promoted to encourage practitioners to achieve ≥ 50% of PE class in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The purpose of this preliminary study was to develop, validate, and test the reliability of the Simple Activity Measurement (SAM) instrument for assessing MVPA during school PE …

Ground Reaction Forces Generated By Twenty-Eight Hatha Yoga Postures, Sylvia J. Wilcox, Ron Hager, Barbara Lockhart, Matthew K. Seeley

International Journal of Exercise Science

Int J Exerc Sci 5(2) : 114-126, 2012. Adherents claim many benefits from the practice of yoga, including promotion of bone health and prevention of osteoporosis. However, no known studies have investigated whether yoga enhances bone mineral density. Furthermore, none have estimated reaction forces applied by yoga practitioners. The purpose of this study was to collect ground reaction force (GRF) data on a variety of hatha yoga postures that would commonly be practiced in fitness centers or private studios. Twelve female and eight male volunteers performed a sequence of 28 hatha yoga postures while GRF data were collected with an …