Physiology Commons^™

An Exploratory Analysis Of The Role Of Sex In Load Carriage, Rachel E. Perez, Dustin R. Slivka, Brent C. Ruby

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Axially loaded weight may impose a metabolic demand equivalent to that of fat mass (FM) during load carriage. Males (M) typically have a lower body fat percentage than females (F), resulting in metabolic demand differences during load carriage that may be mitigated by accounting for FM in pack loads. PURPOSE: To determine whether normalizing pack load to FM equalizes metabolic cost across sexes during load carriage. METHODS: Twenty-eight participants (14M, 23 ± 5 y, 1.81 ± 0.07 m, 78.7 ± 10.0 kg, 12.7 ± 5.4% body fat, VO₂peak 4.18 ± 0.54 L·min^-1; 14F, 22 ± 4 …

Predicting Tilt In Esports: A Psychophysiological Approach To Understanding Player Emotional Regulation, Nathan Rhea

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Emotional regulation and stress management are important to both casual and competitive esports players. When players become dysregulated, they experience a phenomenon known as “tilt” within the gaming community, where they often lose control of their emotions and their performance declines. This study aimed to investigate whether a psychophysiological variable in heart rate variability could predict tilt in college-age esports players. Additionally, the relationship between heart rate variability and emotions predicted by the Tiltometer system with gameplay performance and winning or losing was tested.

This study used a quantitative correlational research design. Participants for this study were college-age players (N=23) …

Biphasic Calcium Disturbance In Rhabdomyolysis: A Case Report Of Recovery Phase Severe Hypercalcemia, Maham Shahid, Jean C. Ramos-Cardona, Maria Toustsoglou, Gunjan Y. Gandhi

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Full Femur Imaging For Early Detection Of Incomplete Atypical Femur Fractures, Ashley B. Humrickhouse, Donald Eagerton, Anne G. La Rochelle

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Regrowth Of Thyroid Gland After Total Thyroidectomy, Amy Duff, Mikayla Kidd, Donald Eagerton

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

When Covid Unmasks More Than Infection: A Case Of Post-Viral Lada, Mikayla Kidd, Amy Duff, Reggie Skains Iii, Sahana Parthasarathy

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Thyroid Storm At Sea: A Case Report Of Algae-Induced Thyrotoxicosis, Alynna Knaub, Amanda Cecchini, John Janousek, Laura Strojny, Jairo Noreña, Zachary Pawlikowski

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis (IIT), also known as the Jod-Basedow phenomenon, is a rare yet recognized cause of hyperthyroidism. While iodinated contrast is the most frequent trigger, iodine-rich supplements such as seaweed products or supplements can also precipitate thyrotoxicosis, particularly in individuals with prior chronic iodine deficiency or preexisting thyroid nodular disease. We present a case of thyroid storm following short-term ingestion of Irish sea moss as part of a “crash diet.” A 37-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes mellitus, well controlled on subcutaneous insulin therapy, presented with nausea and vomiting after 6 days of following a restrictive diet consisting solely of …

Circulating Biomarker Results From A Phase 2 Study Of Seralutinib In Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, Robin Osterhout, Athénaïs Boucly, Raymond L. Benza, Richard N. Channick, Kelly M. Chin, Robert P. Frantz, Anna R. Hemnes, Luke S. Howard, Vallerie V. Mclaughlin, Olivier Sitbon, Jean-Luc Vachiéry, Rotham T. Zamanian, Richard Aranda, Matt Cravets, Zhaoqing Ding, Thao Duong-Verlé, David Mattola, Robert F. Roscigno, Ravikumar Sitapara, Lawrence S. Zisman, Jean-Marie Bruey, Hossein-Ardeschir Ghofrani

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

[Introduction] To the Editor: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease characterized by obstructive pulmonary arterial remodeling (1). Seralutinib, an investigational inhaled tyrosine kinase inhibitor, potently and selectively targets kinases relevant to PAH pathobiology including platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFR) α and β, colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R), and mast/stem cell growth factor receptor kit (c-KIT) (2). In preclinical models, seralutinib improved cardiopulmonary hemodynamics, reversed pulmonary vascular pathology and decreased right ventricular hypertrophy (3). In TORREY, a phase 2, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in PAH, seralutinib significantly reduced pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) after 24 weeks with good …

Selenium And Liver Steatosis And Fibrosis: Opposing Direct And Steatosis-Mediated Associations In A Large Cohort, Neda Rehan, Jubilee Benedict, Rehan Qayyum

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background and Aims

Epidemiologic studies have reported conflicting associations between selenium exposure and liver disease. Whether selenium exerts opposing direct and steatosis-mediated effects on liver fibrosis is unknown. To evaluate the associations of blood selenium with elastography-defined hepatic steatosis and fibrosis and to determine whether hepatic steatosis mediates the relationship between selenium and fibrosis.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of adults aged >= 18 years in NHANES 2017-2023. Hepatic steatosis was assessed using the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and fibrosis using liver stiffness measurement (LSM). Blood selenium was categorized into quartiles. Survey-weighted multivariable linear regression and structural equation modeling …

Markov Chain Wave Generative Adversarial Network For Bee Bioacoustic Signal Synthesis, Kumudu Samarappuli, Iman Ardekani, Mahsa Mohaghegh, Abdolhossein Sarrafzadeh

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper presents a framework for synthesizing bee bioacoustic signals associated with hive events. While existing approaches like WaveGAN have shown promise in audio generation, they often fail to preserve the subtle temporal and spectral features of bioacoustic signals critical for event-specific classification. The proposed method, MCWaveGAN, extends WaveGAN with a Markov Chain refinement stage, producing synthetic signals that more closely match the distribution of real bioacoustic data. Experimental results show that this method captures signal characteristics more effectively than WaveGAN alone. Furthermore, when integrated into a classifier, synthesized signals improved hive status prediction accuracy. These results highlight the potential …

Micrornas Regulated By Pregnancy Target Antiviral And Cancer Immunity Overlapping With The Hiv Interactome, Paula F. T. Cezar-De-Mello, Jonathan M. Dreyfuss, Pai-Lien Chen, Hidemi Yamamoto, Xiaoming Gao, Hui Pan, Charles Morrison, Gustavo F. Doncel, Robert L. Barbieri, Raina N. Fichorova

CONRAD Publications

Innate immunity predictors of HIV-1 risk and pathogenesis vary with reproductive hormones, pregnancy, and lactation, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that pregnancy-associated physiological adaptations alter systemic microRNA (miRNA) expression, thereby regulating immunity, pathogenesis and susceptibility to infection. We analyzed 174 serum samples from 88 participants in a longitudinal cohort from Uganda and Zimbabwe across pre-pregnancy (PP), pregnancy (P), and postpartum breastfeeding (BF). Cell-free peripheral blood miRNAs (n = 2083) were profiled using HTG EdgeSeq. Pregnancy-specific miRNAs were identified by intersecting differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs from P vs. PP and P vs. BF comparisons. miRNA targets and pathways …

A Comprehensive Overview Of Neurophysiological Correlates Of Cognitive Impairment In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Seyyed Bahram Borgheai, Brie E. Achorn, Alyssa H. Zisk, Sarah M. Hosni, Karl E. G. Richter, Frank S. Menniti, Yalda Shahriari

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that leads to the gradual loss of motor control, typically resulting in paralysis and death within 3 to 5 years of diagnosis. ALS shares neuropathological and genetic associations with fronto-temporal dementia (FTD), a neurodegenerative condition primarily impacting cognitive functions. These two conditions are increasingly viewed as manifestations of a single molecular disease process that affects distinct brain systems, impacting motor neuronal pathways in ALS and fronto-cortical functions in FTD. However, this simple dichotomy belies the complexity of these conditions. In particular, patients with primary motor ALS can also experience significant cognitive …

Gcn5l1-Mediated Lysine Acetylation Regulates Mitochondrial Dysfunction In The Aged Heart, Jackson Edmond Stewart

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

For over a century, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been and remains the leading cause of death globally. CVD risk and severity increase significantly with advanced age, and mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of aging. Furthermore, mitochondrial health is crucial for cardiac function, as one-third of total cardiomyocyte volume is occupied by mitochondria in order to meet the high energy demand of contractile and relaxational function. It is thus crucial that we understand the pathological mechanisms driving mitochondrial dysfunction in aging and how this contributes to age-associated cardiovascular disease. The current manuscript aims to fill this knowledge gap …

The Influence Of Perceived Social Support On Mental Health During Injury In Female Gaa Athletes., Clodagh M. O’Connor, Samantha Glynn Kelly

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Injury recovery in sport involves not only physical rehabilitation but also significant psychological challenges, particularly for female athletes in amateur and elite environments. This study aimed to explore the perceived social support received by injured female Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) athletes and the effect it had on their mental health during injury. A qualitative research design was employed to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences of injured female athletes. Data were collected through semi-structured, one-on-one interviews, allowing for open-ended responses and the exploration of individual perspectives. The sample consisted of 10 female athletes aged between 18 and 32 years, …

Developing A Tool To Measure Resistance To Sustainable Food Choices: A Pilot Study In Ireland And The Netherlands, Kate Flanagan, Bart Sinteur, Patricia J. Bulsing, John M. Kearney

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Consumer uptake of a sustainable diet is critical for addressing environmental challenges and promoting public health. Understanding why consumers resist adopting sustainable eating habits can inform targeted interventions and policies. This pilot study examines whether a newly developed scale can effectively detect consumer resistance to a sustainable diet. Currently, there is a lack of research on a tool to measure consumer resistance to a sustainable diet, highlighting the need for a reliable instrument.

The aim of this study is to develop a scale, based on existing literature, to measure consumer resistance to a sustainable diet. Additionally, the study aims to …

Editorial-Sure Journal Volume 7, Issue 2, Geraldine M. Dowling, Eva Campion, Sinead Loughran, Ariane Perez-Gavilan, Josephine Treacy

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Measuring Welfare Of Wild Tarantulas During Field Surveys Using Heart Rate, Tim Angelo Artiaga Lopez, Becky Hansis-O'Neill, Aimee Dunlap Phd

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Tarantulas (Theraposidae) are predatory arachnids that can help control populations of herbivorous arthropods. We have been monitoring populations of the Missouri brown tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi) in Missouri glades for three seasons and have questions about their welfare during these surveys. Unlike mammals, arthropods are not extensively researched and there are only a few known facts about measuring their welfare. Managing stress for wild animals during field surveys is important for reducing the potential negative impacts of research. In mammals, increased heart rate is positively correlated with negative stress and eustress. Using the same logic, we hypothesized that heart rate could …

Differences In Total Daily Energy Expenditure Across Field Sports: A Narrative Review, Brenen Skalitzky, Jennifer Fields, Margaret T. Jones, Chad Kerksick, Andrew Jagim

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Differences in total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) across sports, sex, and skill level support the need for sport- and athlete-specific energy intake recommendations. The purpose of the current review was to examine TDEE and related markers of energy expenditure across field-based team sports. A secondary aim was to evaluate physical activity levels (PAL), calculated as TDEE divided by resting metabolic rate (RMR), and their utility in estimating energy needs within team sports.

Methods: The review was limited to studies that included the field-based team sports of rugby or soccer and reported energy expenditure data using doubly labeled water …

Near-Infrared-Spectroscopy-Derived Oxygen Desaturation Rates During Post-Exercise Circulatory Occlusion As Predictors Of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Markers, Carstell Lee

Honors Theses

Cardiorespiratory fitness, measured as maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max) is a critical predictor of all-cause mortality and overall cardiovascular health. Metabolic carts are the current gold standard for evaluation of VO₂max, but are inaccessible to most facilities and individuals, and are expensive ($20,000+). Near-Infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has emerged as an accessible and affordable ($5,000-$10,000) alternative for evaluating skeletal muscle oxygenation kinetics and mitochondrial oxidative capacity. However, there is limited research in examining whether NIRS-derived oxygen desaturation rates can be a predictor of cardiorespiratory fitness markers (such as VO₂max and peak power output [PPO]), and whether these measurements show a superior predictive …

Exposure To Pm2.5 And Aging., Daniel Chris Gomes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inhalation of fine airborne particulate matter (PM_2.5) is an environmental risk factor for numerous health disorders, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD). While several studies have shown that PM_2.5 exposure can induce oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammation, the underlying mechanisms that translate these effects into systemic pathology remain poorly understood. Some recent studies have shown that PM_2.5 exposure can lead to telomere shortening in leukocytes, but the generality of this outcome and contribution to endothelial dysfunction has not yet been fully explored. We hypothesized that PM_2.5inhalation accelerates cellular aging and senescence in both circulating peripheral …