Physiology Commons^™

Regulation Of Skeletal Muscle Plasticity By The Gut Microbiome, Taylor R. Valentino

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiome could play a role in skeletal muscle plasticity, providing novel treatments for muscle wasting diseases and/or performance enhancements. I first sought to determine if the gut microbiome is necessary for skeletal muscle adaptation to exercise. Forty-two, four-month old, female C57Bl/6J underwent nine weeks of weighted wheel running or remained in cage with a locked wheel, without or without the administration of antibiotics (treated). In response to wheel running, I found that antibiotic depletion of the microbiome led to a blunted hypertrophic response in the soleus muscle as measured by normalized muscle wet weight …

The Role Of Nitric Oxide In Inter- And Intra- Cellular Signaling In Plant Defense, Fan Xia

Theses and Dissertations--Plant Pathology

Plants have evolved a sophisticated immune system to defend themselves against pathogens. This immune response can be triggered in response to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP) or specialized effectors that are recognized by the plant resistance (R) proteins. The latter, commonly referred to as effector-triggered immunity (ETI), is well known to induce broad-spectrum resistance throughout the plants. This phenomenon known as systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is regulated by several chemical signals including salicylic acid (SA), and free radical nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). These signals operate in two parallel branches with NO/ROS functioning downstream of pipecolic acid (Pip) …

Optimization Of Electrically Driven Fluid Flow Through Tissue Hydrogels, Joseph C. Walker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

How Exercise Affects The Musculoskeletal System In The Biological Sexes: A Literature Review, Lauren Connolly

Honors Program Theses

Exercise has countless benefits for the human body. Physical activity increases overall health and reduces the risk of developing many chronic diseases. While the entire body is impacted by exercise, the musculoskeletal system is perhaps targeted most directly. Muscle contraction is required to complete any form of exercise, which helps build muscle mass and consequently strengthens bones. The physiology of musculoskeletal growth after exercise is the same for all individuals. However, the magnitude of this growth is not the same for men and women. Men have a profound ability to gain muscle mass that most women are not capable of …

Effects Of Melatonin Implantation On The Activity Levels Of Captive Snow Buntings (Plectrophenax Nivalis), Zoë Ward

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

In vertebrates, melatonin regulates many components of the circadian rhythm; depending on the organism’s location and time of year, the pineal gland will produce melatonin accordingly, controlling the sleep-wake cycle and breeding physiologies. However, locations at the poles in which the sun is above the horizon for multiple days at a time pose unique challenges for the organisms living there. The goal of this study was to examine how the implantation of melatonin in an arctic-breeding songbird affects its activity levels and circadian rhythm. The subject of this study, the snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis), is a small songbird …

Effects Of Mindfulness And Stress Management On Neurocardiovascular And Psychological Outcomes, Aditi P. Vyas

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

There has been a higher prevalence of developing anxiety due to frequent episodes of stress among adults in recent years. Chronic anxiety can contribute to the prevalence of elevated blood pressure and hypertension. High anxiety and stress also contribute to overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system which can be quantified by increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). Sympathetic overactivation can lead to vasoconstriction and loss of arterial elasticity. Anxiety, MSNA, blood pressure, and arterial stiffness are all interconnected, thus studying these relationships is crucial to understand the underlying mechanisms for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Non-pharmacological and mind-body …

Supplemental Peer Instruction In Physiologic Core Concept Education, Austin Choat

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The objective of my thesis project was to create and research the importance of supplemental learning videos within core physiological concepts identified by the Advancement of Physiological Principles for the purpose of assisting Dr. Kim Hansen in better educating students with less extensive foundational knowledge of chemical and biological sciences. Through researching the benefits of peer instruction, identifying core physiological concepts crucial to wholistic physiology education, and describing a student population hypothesized to benefit substantially from the work, I created educational videos to aid Dr. Hansen in her work as an educator and in the educational research she is striving …

The Exposome, Metabolic Dysfunction And Silicosis: A Pulmonary And Pathophysiology Study, Janet A. Thompson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The exposome encompasses the concept that an individual’s health is a combination of genetic, environmental, and occupational exposures. A worker’s exposomal profile could potentially influence their susceptibility to hazardous occupational exposures. Over 35% of adults in the United States have metabolic dysfunction (MetDys), yet interactions between MetDys and hazardous occupational exposures are generally unknown. MetDys is associated with HFWD-consumption and obesity and induces a chronic low grade systemic inflammation and alters serum adipokine profiles. Silicosis, a progressive inflammatory lung disease, results from occupational inhalation exposure to respirable crystalline silica particles. This research tests the hypothesis “Inflammation resulting from HFWD-induced …

Microglia Distribution In The Lateral Ventricles Following Treatment Of Lysolecithin Model Of Multiple Sclerosis, Spencer James Wilson

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects an estimated one million people in the US alone (Wallin et al., 2019). We modeled MS in rats using lysolecithin injection into the corpus callosum to diminish motor function unilaterally through demyelination, meanwhile treating the injury with Fluoxetine, Ibuprofen, and ascorbic acid (FIAA) to increase neurogenesis and oligodendrogenesis. Motor function was assessed using the Montoya Staircase test pre- and post-surgery. Motor capabilities recovered in the contralateral limb, but not in the ipsilateral, and recovery was not significantly affected by treatment. We identified microglia by CX3CR1 and examined its distribution in the adult neurogenic niche, the SVZ …

Strong Inferences About Pain In Invertebrates Require Stronger Evidence, Edgar T. Walters

Animal Sentience

Evidence for sentience in animals distantly related to humans is often sought in observations of behavioral and neural responses to noxious stimuli that would be painful in humans. Most proposed criteria for painful sentience in “lower” animals such as decapod crustaceans have no necessary links to the affective (“suffering”) component of pain. The best evidence for painful affect in animals is learned aversion to stimuli associated with noxious experience, and conditioned preference for contexts associated with relief from aversive consequences of noxious experience, as expressed in voluntary behavior. Such evidence is currently lacking for any invertebrate except octopus.

The Mechanisms Of Axon Initial Segment Alteration Due To Disrupted Glucose Metabolism: A Potential Link To Cognitive Impairment, Duc Van Minh Nguyen

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Cognitive impairment is a serious global health issue due to its widely complicated pathologies that are linked to many diseases, including type 2 diabetes. Yet, detailed mechanisms of cognitive impairment associated with type 2 diabetes are unknown. Evidence suggests type 2 diabetes is associated with disrupted glucose metabolism, elevated methylglyoxal, and axon initial segment (AIS) shortening. Subtle changes of AIS could significantly contribute to neuronal dysfunction in neurological diseases (e.g., cognitive impairment). Utilizing in vitro dissociated mouse cortical cultures, we initially discovered elevated methylglyoxal shortens the AIS length of the immunofluorescent marker AnkyrinG (Griggs et al., 2021). This thesis further …

Microvascular Consequences Of Engineered Nanomaterial Inhalation Exposure And Subsequent Reproductive Outcomes, Krista Lee Garner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nano-titanium dioxide (nano-TiO₂) is a commonly utilized engineered nanomaterial found ubiquitously in consumer products. While benefits of ENM utilization in are undeniable, nanoparticle inhalation has been linked to cardiovascular consequences and altered microvascular responses. Given these outcomes, it is important to explore vulnerable timepoints, such as gestation, as robust vascular adaptations are essential for maternofetal health.

The first aim of this dissertation was to assess myogenic responsiveness following maternal nano-TiO₂ inhalation. Fetal aortic responses were evaluated on gestational day (GD) 20 to assess how exposure may impact the F1 generation. Myogenic responsiveness within the uterine radial arteries …

Amelioration Of Mitochondrial Bioenergetic Dysfunction In Diabetes Mellitus: Delving Into Specialized And Non-Specific Therapeutics For The Ailing Heart, Andrya Jean Durr

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Morbidity and mortality of the diabetic population is influenced by many confounding factors, but cardiovascular disease (CVD), remains the leading cause of death. Mitochondrial dysfunction is central in the development of cardiac contractile dysfunction, with decreased mitochondrial bioenergetic function, increased dependence on free fatty acid utilization, and a decrease in glucose utilization having been shown to contribute to contractile dysfunction. Strategies targeting the amelioration of mitochondrial bioenergetic function are attractive for limiting diabetes-induced heart failure, and preserving health-span. The goals of this dissertation were to assess two mitochondrial-centric approaches for the amelioration of mitochondrial and cardiac contractile dysfunction in diabetes …

Targeting Bcl-2 Family Proteins In Therapy Induced Senescent Cancer Cell Models, Wade Cook

Theses and Dissertations

Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) originates from numerous different cell types in the lungs and is among the deadliest of cancers. Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas (HNSCC) are derived from the mucosal membranes of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. Both NSCLC and HNSCC are predominately caused by tobacco smoke inhalation and as such mutations in the tumor suppressor gene TP53 are common. Since similarities exist in the root cause of NSCLC and HNSCC, they may also share similarities in treatment methods. Cisplatin is a platinum-based DNA damaging agent that has been used as a cancer chemotherapy for decades. …

A Perfect Storm?: The Association Of Vitamin D With Injury Prevalence Among Acrobatics & Tumbling Athletes, K Lee, A Gallucci, L Funderburk, L Cherpe De Souza, L Irvin, E Boyer

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Context: Acrobatics and Tumbling (A&T) was recently placed on the NCAA’s emerging sports list. Due to the novelty of the sport, limited research related to injury prevalence and correlates are available. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the sport presents with high injury rates and associated costs. Information related to causes and prevalence of injury would help ATs working in the collegiate setting. Increased understanding of injury and its correlates in this population may allow ATs to provide better care. Objective: To examine descriptive injury data of acrobatics and tumbling athletes and evaluate the relationship between serum vitamin D, injury and time …

Comparison Of The Closed Shoulder Reduction Techniques: An Evidence-To-Practice Review, Kaitlin Sznajder, Dylan Arango, Zachary K. Winkelmann

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

The shoulder joint is one of the most dislocated joints in the body. It does not have substantial bony support which allows for a large range of motion. Shoulder joints most commonly dislocate anteriorly, and less often dislocate posteriorly and inferiorly. There is a myriad of ways to reduce a shoulder dislocation including closed and open techniques. The purpose of this evidence-to-practice review is to summarize which closed shoulder reduction techniques are most effective and apply those results to an athletic training setting. The authors of this guiding systematic review studied multiple articles that compared different closed shoulder reduction techniques …

Recommendation For Best Practices In The Management Of Musculoskeletal Pain: An Evidence-To-Practice Review, Laura M. Kehr, Dylan C. Rowe, Rylee M. Learn, Allison B. Smith, Zachary K. Winkelmann

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

While musculoskeletal (MSK) pain conditions are some of the most common health issues faced internationally, the quality of patient care with MSK pain is lacking. Problems with MSK care include the overuse of imaging, surgery, opioids, and failure to educate patients. Improving the quality of care for MSK conditions is considered a priority for all involved healthcare clinicians. The 2019 guiding systematic review addressed the concerns of MSK management by identifying common recommendations for high-quality care through appraisals of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). Data was extracted from four databases and included articles examining the most common sites of MSK pain …

Cryo-Em Structure Of Transmembrane Aaa+ Protease Ftsh In The Adp State, Wu Liu, Martien Schoonen, Tong Wang, Sean Mcsweeney, Qun Liu

Advanced Science Research Center

AAA+ proteases regulate numerous physiological and cellular processes through tightly regulated proteolytic cleavage of protein substrates driven by ATP hydrolysis. FtsH is the only known family of membrane-anchored AAA+ proteases essential for membrane protein quality control. Although a spiral staircase rotation mechanism for substrate translocation across the FtsH pore has been proposed, the detailed conformational changes among various states have not been clear due to absence of FtsH structures in these states. We report here the cryo-EM structure for Thermotoga maritima FtsH (TmFtsH) in a fully ADP-bound symmetric state. Comparisons of the ADP-state structure with its apo-state and a substrate-engaged …

The Role Of Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Β (Gsk-3Β) At The Cardiac Myofilament, Marisa Jean Stachowski

Dissertations

Altered kinase activity and localization is gaining appreciation as a mechanism contributing to cardiovascular disease. Previous work suggests that the kinase glycogen synthase kinase 3 β (GSK-3β) regulates contractile function of the myofilament, but this work was performed in vitro. The goal of this work was to investigate GSK-3β’s in vivo role in regulating myofilament function, the mechanisms involved, and the translational relevance in disease. GSK-3β’s myofilament localization was confirmed in wild type mouse and human tissue via western blot of myofilament enriched tissue and immunofluorescence. These experiments also revealed that GSK-3β phosphorylated at Y216 binds to the z-disc. We …

Casting And Splinting Options For Pseudo-Jones Avulsion Fractures: An Evidence-To-Practice Review, Amber M. Kingsley, Aysha B. Reyes, Zachary K. Winkelmann

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Avulsion fractures of the fifth metatarsal bone occur when a portion of the bone is broken or pulled off the rest of the bone. These fractures are often seen in athletes, especially those of a young age. Avulsion fractures of the fifth metatarsal bone are commonly treated non-surgically with immobilization of the foot. There are several different options for immobilization of the foot with no clear result as to which immobilization method is the most effective. The purpose of this evidence-to-practice review was to summarize a systematic review on comparative outcomes of immobilization interventions on avulsion fractures of the fifth …