Physiology Commons^™

Sympathetic-Cardiovascular Stress Reactivity In Adults With Major Depressive Disorder, Ashley Darling

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood and/or anhedonia that causes significant functional impairment in daily life. MDD affects nearly 15% of adults in their lifetime, and since 2019, prevalence estimates have increased up to ~30% in young adults (18-25 years old). In addition to its debilitating effects on daily functioning, epidemiological studies link MDD to ~3 times greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), followed by accelerated CVD progression and mortality. Although the mechanisms contributing to MDD-CVD comorbidity are unclear, there is evidence of stress system dysfunction in adults with MDD.

Accordingly, the aim …

Master’S-Level Professional Athletic Training Program Admissions Data: Does It Matter If Your Institution Is Public Or Private?, J M. Cavallario, C Starkey, C E. Welch Bacon

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Recently, there has been speculation that the transition to a master’s degree for entry into the athletic training profession has resulted in a shortage of athletic trainers (ATs) relative to the number of jobs available. The Board of Certification has announced that the total number of credentialed ATs has not decreased, yet athletic training programs consistently report challenges in recruiting athletic training students to their programs. Data provided by the CAATE from annual reports is typically two years old once it is made publicly available. Program and institutional administrators need access to real-time data to make decisions regarding program …

Employers’ Perceptions Of And Experiences Working With Residency-Trained Athletic Trainers, C E. Welch Bacon, J M. Cavallario, L E. Eberman, J J. Wetherington, F Q. Pecha, B L. Van Lunen

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Context: Athletic trainers (ATs) who complete accredited residency training in a specialty area are considered clinical specialists, yet more information is needed to determine whether they are practicing within the higher capacity expected of a specialist. While some quantitative evidence demonstrating the value of residency-trained ATs on patient satisfaction, patient throughput, and the financial impact specific to the physician practice setting exists, residency training is not limited to only ATs who want to provide services in physician practice. Moreover, as accredited athletic training residency programs continue to emerge, it is increasingly important to understand key stakeholders’ perceptions of residency-trained ATs …

I Just Don't Want To Hear It: A Look Into The Relationship Between The Dark Triad And Negative Criticism, Carson Montgomery Hewitt

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Three dark personality traits have been identified and grouped together to form what is known as the Dark Triad of personality. Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and Psychopathy are all connected by a lack of emotional empathy, and the presence of interpersonal hostility. When presented with negative stimuli, it is far from surprising to see an adverse reaction appear in participants scoring high in these traits. Little research has been conducted regarding the relationship between physiological response and dark triad personality traits. Even fewer so in the case of responses to criticism. This study aimed to examine the relationship between these dark personality …

Exploring The Role Of Nonmuscle Myosin Ii In Renal Thick Ascending Limb Epithelial Cell Protein Trafficking And Organelle Architecture, Brook Busselman

Dissertations and Theses

The traditional functional roles of the actin associated motor protein nonmuscle myosin II (NM2) have been thoroughly studied. However, the nontraditional roles for NM2 in the context of membrane remodeling and protein trafficking events in cells have just recently been unraveled. Our work has found that genetic inactivation of NM2 protein isoforms MYH9 and MYH10 in the renal epithelium of adult mice leads to progressive kidney disease. Aberrant protein transport and localization in cells of the thick ascending limb (TAL) of the kidney nephron is accompanied by upregulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway. …

Fxr Agonism With Bile Acid Mimetic Reduces Pre-Clinical Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Burden, Sydney Joseph, Samson Eugin Simon, Margaret S. Bohm, Minjeong Kim, Madeline E. Pye, Boston W. Simmons, Dillon G. Graves, Stacey M. Thomas-Gooch, Ubaid A. Tanveer, Jeremiah R. Holt, Suriyan Ponnusamy, Laura M. Sipe, Et Al.

Biological Sciences Research

Bariatric surgery is associated with improved outcomes for several cancers, including breast cancer (BC), although the mechanisms mediating this protection are unknown. We hypothesized that elevated bile acid pools detected after bariatric surgery may be factors that contribute to improved BC outcomes. Patients with greater expression of the bile acid receptor FXR displayed improved survival in specific aggressive BC subtypes. FXR is a nuclear hormone receptor activated by primary bile acids. Therefore, we posited that activating FXR using an established FDA-approved agonist would induce anticancer effects. Using in vivo and in vitro approaches, we determined the anti-tumor potential of bile …

Understanding Sport Coaches’ Responses To Injury, Ashanti Robinson

Honors College Theses

Injury is an inevitable part of any sport an athlete decides to take part in. Many things go along with injury, but one of the biggest factors is the one directly responsible for the success of the athlete: the coach. The purpose of this study was, based on a systematic review of the literature, to better understand what part coaches play in the fear of athletic injuries including their responses and the rationale for those responses. The study was conducted by cross-referencing multiple articles across different databases and systematically examining the different studies to further understand the fear of injury …

Robust Phylogenetic Regression, Richard Adams, Zoe Cain, Raquel Assis, Michael Degiorgio

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Modern comparative biology owes much to phylogenetic regression. At its conception, this technique sparked a revolution that armed biologists with phylogenetic comparative methods (PCMs) for disentangling evolutionary correlations from those arising from hierarchical phylogenetic relationships. Over the past few decades, the phylogenetic regression framework has become a paradigm of modern comparative biology that has been widely embraced as a remedy for shared ancestry. However, recent evidence has shown doubt over the efficacy of phylogenetic regression, and PCMs more generally, with the suggestion that many of these methods fail to provide an adequate defense against unreplicated evolution—the primary justification for using …

The Role Of Liver-Specific Transcription Factor Hnf4 In Reprogramming Of Fibroblasts, Mary Odubote

Masters Theses

The mammalian liver, a vital organ with complex functions, relies on a network of transcription factors to regulate gene expression. Fusion of hepatoma cells with fibroblasts often leads to gene extinction, silencing approximately 400 liver-enriched genes, including critical transcription factors such as HNF4. Previous studies revealed that ectopic expression of HNF4 in fibroblasts failed to prevent the extinction of SERPINA1, a liver-specific gene, upon subsequent fusion with hepatoma cells. Here, we sought to investigate the extent to which ectopic expression of HNF4 can reprogram fibroblast cells and prevent gene extinction in hybrid cells.

Using whole-genome expression analysis, we compared RAT1 …

Swimming: A Great Decision And An Even Better Journey, Eva M. Hunnius

Emerging Writers

Swimming is loved, feared, and cherished by so many around the world. People love it because it gives them a sense of freedom and peace, while also receiving a great workout. Some may fear it because they do not know how to swim, or they feel like there are many dangers and risks to swimming. Others cherish it because it is the only sport they have ever known. In my case, swimming is one of the only things that has been with me since I was a little kid. This remains true for many athletes. In this discussion, I hope …

Novel Methods For Assessing Pulmonary And Cardio-Vascular Limitations To Aerobic Performance In Older And Younger Populations, Toni Haddad

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Around the world, life expectancy is increasing, the ageing population is growing, and maintaining quality of life at an older age currently represents a major global challenge. While ‘successful ageing’ relies on a variety of factors, aerobic performance and exercise capacity are key determinants and attenuating their decline is of the utmost importance. The decrease in maximal oxygen consumption is often considered as a major determinant explaining the age[1]related decline in aerobic performance. Yet, multiple physiological systems are impaired with ageing and their contribution to aerobic limitation in older individuals is unclear. Understanding how the limitations to aerobic performance may …

The Physiological And Behavioral Effects Of A Centrally Administered Oxytocin Receptor Antagonist On Maternal Buffering In Infant Guinea Pigs, Kendra A. Carter

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the role of endogenous oxytocin (OT) in maternal buffering of infant stress responses in guinea pigs. Infants received intracerebroventricular infusion of an oxytocin receptor antagonist (OTA) or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) immediately before being placed with the mother in a novel environment for 60 minutes. Blood cortisol levels and behavioral responses, including vocalizations and crouching, were measured throughout the testing period. Results indicate only a significant effect of time, with cortisol levels increasing with time spent in the novel environment. Otherwise, no significant differences were observed either physiologically or behaviorally between aCSF and OTA conditions. This study …

Implementation Of Prognosticator Algorithm For Initiation Of Serious Illness Discussions And Improving The Rate Of Palliative And Hospice Referrals, Joy Isebor

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Context: Early serious illness conversations related to end-of-life and goals of care with seriously ill patients have been associated with improving patients' outcomes and quality of care (Bernacki et al., 2015). However, initiating these serious illness discussions has been challenging in the home-based primary care setting.

Objectives: To train and support home-based primary care clinicians in integrating best practices in serious illness discussions and decision-making engagement among patients sixty-five and older with serious illnesses, optimize the alignment between patient goals and the medical care they receive, improving their quality of life and the rate of palliative care and hospice referrals. …

Estrogen Signaling Regulates The Sex Difference In Resynchronization To Abrupt Shifts Of The Light-Dark Cycle In A Mouse Model Of Jet Lag, Maria Venegas

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

The circadian system coordinates 24-hour cycles of internal biological processes with the environmental light-dark cycle. Abrupt shifts in the timing of the light-dark cycle misalign internal circadian clocks with the environment and cause jet lag until resynchronization occurs. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying sex differences in jet lag in mice. Female mice resynchronized faster than male mice to 6-hour advances and delays of the light-dark cycle, which mimicked eastward and westward travel, respectively. Circulating estradiol was necessary for rapid resynchronization in female mice since ovariectomized females resynchronized slower than mice treated with estradiol. We …

Genetic And Metabolic Factors Shaping Functional And Systemic Recovery Post-Spinal Cord Injury: A Focus On Apoe, Chase Taylor

Theses and Dissertations--Neuroscience

There are currently approximately 300,000 individuals living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) in the United States with an additional 17,000 injuries occurring each year. Perhaps of equal importance the median age at which an SCI occurs within the population has steadily increased since the 1970s to the 2010s from 29 years to 43 years and is still on the rise. Women, historically underrepresented in biomedical research, have also seen a slight increase in SCI incidence. This increase in age of injury onset means that more people with an SCI will be impacted by genetic factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease …

The Delineation Of Platelet Pathology In Cardiometabolic Disease, Chi Peng

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Obesity is a multifactorial disease with many comorbidities leading to multiorgan dysfunction. Current studies point towards dysregulation of platelet signaling as a driver for increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. The exact mechanisms remain elusive due to the complex interplay of factors involved, warranting the need to further understand how platelets are affected. Our preliminary data evaluating changes in platelet and coagulation parameters from bariatric patients showed that obesity did not affect platelet count or clotting time as demonstrated in INR values. However, female patients had increased bleeding events before surgery that were decreased after surgery. Due to limitations …

Impact Of Short-Distance Road Transportation On Horse Health, Erica Jacquay

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Horses are regularly transported across the United States; however, the reasons for travel, trip lengths, and management practices are not well characterized. While long distance transportation has been associated with increased incidences of health-related problems, the impact of short distance transportation on horse health is less understood. Notably, aged horses ( > 15 years) have an altered immune response following short-distance transportation, but this has yet to be compared to young horses. It is also unknown whether transportation stress would alter endocrine responses of horses with metabolic disorders, such as insulin dysregulation (ID) or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID).

The objectives …

A Comparison Of Muscle Function Between Female And Male Mice With A Deletion To The Pevk Region Of Titin, Amelia Adsen

Scripps Senior Theses

Titin, the third most abundant filament in muscle, serves many roles. It underlies muscle stiffness and functions as a signaling hub particularly during muscular growth. The PEVK region of titin contributes to muscle stiffness and is suspected to play a role in hypertrophic signaling. Most skeletal muscle studies have only used males, leaving a need to include females and investigate muscle physiology sex differences. To investigate sex differences in these functions, soleus muscles from mice with a deletion to the PEVK region (Ttn^∆112-158) and wild type (WT) mice around 100 days old were extracted and attached to an …

Digital Health Care: Time For A New Standard?, Z K. Winkelmann

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: The rapid influx of digitalization in healthcare has presented opportunities for innovative engagement, delivery, and outcomes for patient care. However, it also presents with several barriers and challenges that require teaching and learning opportunities to prepare future athletic trainers for these tasks. Currently, the CAATE curricular content standards integrate digital health care through Standard 64 on health informatics and Standard 87 on biometrics. However, the art and science of digital healthcare are expansive, including various skills such as digital literacy, computer skills, online communication, and privacy and security standards. Methods: The presentation will provide an overview of current digital …

Burnout In Athletic Training: Measured By Survey In Most Common Settings For Athletic Trainers, R Johnson Krug, N Sand, S Brooks, T Smith

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Burnout is a common problem in athletic training, affecting both athletic trainers (ATs) and the athletes they serve. Athletic trainers are responsible for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of sports-related injuries. Long work hours, often including evenings and weekends, as well as frequently under pressure to meet the demands of athletes, coaches, and parents. Athletic trainers face numerous stressors that contribute to burnout. These stressors may include heavy workloads, lack of control over their schedules, time pressures, and pressure to produce positive outcomes. Athletic trainers may also experience emotional and physical exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of personal …