bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diet‐induced obesity increases hepatic Mig6 expression and attenuates EGFR signaling
Authors: Lutkewitte Andrew J , Fueger Patrick T , Chen Yi‐Chun , Hansen Jeffrey L
Published: November 2023

Obesity‐induced hepatic steatosis provokes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which negatively affects cellular processes such as proliferation, survival, and metabolism. Physiologically, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a prominent receptor tyrosine kinase governing hepatocyte proliferation and survival following stress or injury. Unfortunately, EGFR expression and activity, as well as complete hepatic regeneration, are impaired in genetic and diet‐induced obesity (DIO). Therefore, the endogenous feedback inhibitor of EGFR activity, mitogen‐inducible gene 6 (Mig6) could be a novel target for enhancing liver regeneration in DIO‐mediated stress and injury. Thus, we hypothesized DIO‐induced hepatic stress increases Mig6 expression, thereby decreasing EGFR activation. Using primary hepatocytes and cell lines we established that both chemical‐and fatty acid‐induced ER stress decreased EGFR activation and signaling while inducing cell death. Furthermore, Mig6 ablation in hepatocytes restored EGFR signaling and reduced cell death as measured by caspase 3/7 activity. In vivo, C57Bl/6J mice fed a high fat diet (HFD), exhibited increased Mig6 protein expression during DIO and hepatic ER stress. Next, we used Mig6 liver‐specific knockout (LKO) mice fed a HFD to assess the metabolic and hepatic phenotype of Mig6 liver ablation. Mig6 LKO mice had increased liver mass and improved glucose tolerance despite similar hepatic triglyceride content compared to littermate controls. These data suggest Mig6 restricts growth and impairs glucose metabolism regardless of hepatic triglyceride content. We conclude that Mig6 is increased during ER stress from DIO, thereby reducing EGFR activation and bolstering glucose intolerance. The implications are the induction of Mig6 during DIO may attenuate cellular repair and disrupt glucose homeostasis, leading to impaired hepatic function during steatosis.

Support or Funding Information

This work was supported by NIH grant DK099311 (PTF) and American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship (AJL)
Calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II delta – does ageing mirror disease in the cardiovascular system?
Authors: McCluskey Claire , Salleh Hanif , Currie Susan
Published: November 2023

Calcium/calmodulin–dependent protein kinase II delta (CaMKIId) plays a fundamental role in cardiac dysfunction and is known to be overexpressed and hyper‐activated in the diseased heart. A role for CaMKIId in compromised cardiovascular function associated with ageing has yet to be established. Here we compare CaMKIId expression and oxidation (a novel route of enzyme activation) in the diseased and in the aged heart and vasculature. Using a minimally invasive transverse aortic banding (MTAB) mouse model of cardiac hypertrophy as our disease model, we investigated whether alterations in CaMKIId and oxidised CaMKII (ox‐CaMKII) observed during cardiac disease are also a key feature of ageing, where oxidative stress is apparent. Myocardial function was assessed in vivo by echocardiography and compared with that of sham‐operated animals. A significant increase in systolic blood pressure (110±6.3 vs 78±2.6, MTAB vs sham, n=4), mean arterial pressure (75±3.3 vs 60±2.6 (mmHg), MTAB vs sham) and reduction in fractional shortening (39.4±4.4 vs 53.6±3.8 (%FS) MTAB vs sham, n=7, p<0.05) was observed in the hearts from hypertrophied animals demonstrating successful surgical intervention. Post‐mortem analysis revealed increased heart weight:body weight in MTAB animals (5.48±0.17 vs 4.32±0.01, MTAB vs sham, n=6, p<0.05). Quantitative immunoblotting of CaMKIId and ox‐CaMKII expression in whole heart homogenates from MTAB animals showed significant up‐regulation of both when compared to sham controls (0.68±0.02 vs 0.47±0.01 MTAB v's sham, n=7, p<0.01). Interestingly, similar results were obtained in hearts from aged animals. A significant increase in CaMKIId expression was evident in aged hearts (0.81±0.08 vs. 0.46±0.08 aged vs young, p=0.04, n=3) and preliminary data suggests ox‐CaMKII levels also show an increase in comparison to young (1.5‐fold increase, n=1). Similar experiments were also conducted in young and aged rat aortae to assess CaMKIId involvement in vascular function. Vessels from aged subjects showed a significant increase in wall thickness (16.4±0.9 vs. 28±1.5 (um), young vs. aged, p=0.002, n=3) which may suggest an altered phenotype comparable to that observed during disease. Further quantitative immunoblotting indicated that CaMKIId is highly expressed in the vasculature and initial results suggest some alterations in ox‐CaMKII protein levels with ageing, parallel to that observed in the heart. Overall, this work highlights for the first time that ageing alone, produces similar physiological and biochemical alterations in the heart as observed during cardiac disease. In addition to this, preliminary data from the vasculature has revealed a similar trend, suggesting CaMKIId may play an important role in overall deterioration of cardiovascular function with progressive ageing.
HSP72 is required for exercise‐induced protection against ventilator‐induced diaphragm dysfunction
Authors: Smuder Ashley J , Morton Aaron B , Hall Stephanie E , Ahn Bumsoo , Wiggs Michael P , Wawrzyniak Nicholas R , Powers Scott K
Published: November 2023

Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a life‐saving measure for patients in respiratory failure. However, prolonged MV causes significant diaphragm atrophy and contractile dysfunction, a condition referred to as ventilator‐induced diaphragm dysfunction (VIDD). VIDD occurs as a result of mitochondrial dysfunction, which triggers the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and initiates proteolysis. Recent evidence reveals that endurance exercise training is sufficient to prevent MV‐induced mitochondrial dysfunction and avert VIDD. However, the mechanism by which exercise protects the diaphragm against VIDD remains unknown. It is established that exercise promotes numerous cytoprotective adaptations in skeletal muscle fibers, including increased expression of heat shock protein 72 (HSP72). HSP72 plays a key role in numerous cellular functions and overexpression of HSP72 in skeletal muscle can protect against inactivity‐induced muscle atrophy. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that exercise‐induced HSP72 expression is required to protect against VIDD. Cause and effect was determined by inhibiting the endurance exercise‐induced increase in HSP72 in the diaphragm of exercise trained animals that were subsequently exposed to prolonged MV. Our results confirm that exercise training protects against MV‐induced mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS production, and prevents VIDD. Importantly, inhibition of the exercise‐induced increase in HSP72 in the diaphragm precluded the exercise‐induced protection against VIDD. In addition, prevention of exercise‐induced increases in diaphragm HSP72 attenuated the exercise‐induced reduction in MV‐induced mitochondrial dysfunction, ROS production and protease activation in the diaphragm. We conclude that exercise‐induced protection against VIDD is mediated, in part, by increased abundance of HSP72 in the diaphragm.

Support or Funding Information

Supported by NIH R01 AR064189 awarded to SKP
Metabolic Implications of Single‐Unit Avian Intrapulmonary CO2 Chemoreceptor (IPC) Responses to Sustained Anoxia and Normoxia
Authors: Low Trevor Michael , Hempleman Steven Curtis , Molloy Rhett Gordon , Solomon Irene C
Published: November 2023

Pilarski et al, AJPRegu, 296:1576–1584, 2009 reported that tonic and phasic IPC CO2 transduction are both eliminated by mitochondrial Electron Transport System (ETS) inhibitor rotenone, while ETS uncoupler 2,4‐DNP inhibited only tonic CO2 transduction. They suggested that glycolysis may provide sufficient ATP to power phasic IPC transduction, but not the tonic. To investigate further, we separately ventilated and perfused the R and L lungs of anesthetized mallard ducks, and recorded phasic and tonic L lung IPC responses to CO2 in 6 IPC. Ten (10) min of complete L lung anoxia produced by ligating the L pulmonary artery (LPA) and ventilating L lung with N2 and CO2 reduced average tonic and phasic IPC CO2 responses by 75% (p<0.001). Returning O2 to L lung ventilating gas restored phasic IPC responses to normal but tonic responses remained 50% depressed (p<0.001). Returning blood flow through LPA as well as returning O2 to L lung ventilating gas restored phasic and tonic responses to normal. We suggest tonic IPC responses may need ETS to generate ATP and also blood‐flow to replenish metabolites and ions; whereas phasic IPC responses need ETS mainly to oxidize reduced NADH to allow glycolysis to continue.

Support or Funding Information

Support: NIH R15 HL087269‐02.
Restoration of brain serotonin synthesis in Tph2 knockout (Tph2−/−) rats significantly increases eupneic ventilation during postnatal development
Authors: Massat Benjamin , Martino Paul , Hodges Matt
Published: November 2023

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of post‐neonatal mortality in the United States. SIDS victims have been found to have lower levels of brainstem tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2) and serotonin (5‐HT) but retain 5‐HT‐producing neurons. Tph2 is brain specific enzyme that converts tryptophan into 5‐HTP, which is then converted into 5‐HT by dopa decarboxylase (DDC). Our previous data indicated that rats lacking Tph2 failed to generate brain 5‐HT and had dramatically reduced ventilation at rest from postnatal ages (P) 12–17. This study aimed to determine if the CNS 5‐HT depletion could be restored and if reduced ventilation normalized in Tph2−/− rats given 5‐HTP. Respiratory variables were measured for ~20 minutes with a whole body plethysmograph designed to study young rats breathing continuously supplied with room air. Following an initial study, pups were given a set of three injections of either saline (0.9% NaCl; n=12 WT rats) or 5‐HTP (10 mg/kg; n=9 Tph2−/−rats) at 12‐hour increments and then studied again a minimum of one hour after the third injection. Brain tissue (HPLC) and tail clippings (genotyping) were collected immediately post‐study. We found that 5‐HTP injections in Tph2−/− rats led to detectable levels of 5‐HT in the brain, nearly reaching control levels. Importantly, 5‐HTP treatment did not alter dopamine or norepinephrine levels in the brain. Prior to 5‐HTP treatment, Tph2−/− pups had significantly reduced eupneic VE and breathing frequency (P < 0.05). Saline injections had no effects on VE, breathing frequency, or VT in WT littermates. However, 5‐HTP treatments in DATph2−/− pups significantly increased VE, VT, and f (P < 0.05) from pre‐injection control, where VE (and VT) were greater in 5‐HTP‐treated DATph2−/− pups compared to saline treated WT pups (P < 0.05). These data show that injections of 5‐HTP led to 5‐HT production in Tph2−/− rats, which increased resting minute ventilation, tidal volume, and breathing frequency. Thus, DATph2−/− rats may provide a useful animal model in which CNS 5‐HT levels can be temporally controlled in to more fully understand the roles of 5‐HT during development.

Support or Funding Information

Funded by the American Physiological Society Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship
Developmental changes in trigeminal motoneuron properties in the American bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus
Authors: Kinkead Richard , Fournier Stéphanie , Chamberland Simon
Published: November 2023

In frogs, the neural circuits generating gill and lung ventilation are distinct, yet their activities converge on the same groups of motoneurons located in the brainstem, including the trigeminal, hypoglossal, and vagal motoneurons. Because lung ventilation requires more forceful contractions to “push” air back into the lungs, it is plausible that the basic electrophysiological properties of respiratory motoneurons that activate the buccal musculature change during tadpole development in ways that facilitate lung ventilation; however, this hypothesis remains untested. To address this issue we used an electrophysiological approach to compare the functional properties of trigeminal motoneurons between pre‐metamorphic tadpoles and adult frogs. Retrograde labelling of trigeminal motoneurons was performed with the fluorescent marker DiI at least 14 days prior to experiments. Using a coronal slice preparation, we performed whole‐cell recordings from fluorescently‐tagged cells to measure basic motoneurons properties. Electrophysiological characterization was performed by measuring membrane potential responses to steps of current injections. Unexpectedly, the trigeminal motor pool seemed to be composed of two distinct motoneuron populations based on cell size. Resting membrane potential did not differ between populations or developmental stages (~−54 mV). The smaller cells were generally more excitable than the larger ones as indicated by a lower rheobase (49 ± 7 versus 275 ± 48 pA) and a more hyperpolarized action potential threshold (−43 ± 2 versus −38 ± 2 mV). The density of the hyperpolarization‐activated inward current (Ih) was more than 10 times greater in smaller cells. With regards to development, recordings revealed lower membrane resistance in frogs than tadpoles; this developmental change was more important in the smaller cells. Finally, the amplitude of evoked action potentials was greater in frog motoneurons than tadpoles; the developmental augmentation was more important in the smaller cells. While morphometric assessment of each cell type is underway, the cell heterogeneity observed in the trigeminal motor nucleus raises the possibility that the different cell types are associated with different motor commands (gill versus lung ventilation). Owing to the developmental changes observed in the smaller cells, we propose that this population is associated with the production of air breaths.

Support or Funding Information

Supported by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Maturational changes in phenotype and electrophysiological properties of Bötzinger Complex post‐inspiratory neurons of rats
Authors: Moraes Davi J.A. , da Silva Melina P. , Varanda Wamberto A. , Machado Benedito H.
Published: November 2023

Respiratory pattern is determined by chloride‐mediated conductances via GABAergic and glycinergic receptors. GABA and glycine act as inhibitory neurotransmitters in the adult central nervous system, but as excitatory neurotransmitters during postnatal development. In this study, we investigated the respiratory pattern, electrophysiological properties, phenotype and the actions of chloride‐mediated conductances on Bötzinger Complex (BötC) post‐inspiratory (post‐I) neurons on different postnatal days [neonatal, P1–5 (n=25); intermediate, P6–15 (n=39); juvenile, P15–21 (n=45); adult, P22–40 (n=57)] in in situ preparation of rats. Age‐dependent increase in both duration of expiration and post‐inspiration over the first 14 days of life were observed. Regarding the glicinergic and glutamatergic BötC post‐I neurons, burst activity, low threshold spike and calcium current increased with age. Changes in subthreshold responses were also observed, including an increase in input resistance and excitability. Rheobase current, spike frequency adaptation and action potential duration decreased progressively during postnatal development. The transition from excitatory to inhibitory effects of GABA and glycine on BötC post‐I neurons occurred at approximately P6. The age‐dependent changes in the actions of chloride‐mediated conductances are mediated by the development of chloride cotransporters (KCC2, NKCC1 and NKCC2) in BötC post‐I neurons. We conclude that postnatal maturation of the electrophysiological properties of BötC post‐I neurons may explain the development changes in the respiratory pattern and respiratory control of upper airway resistance in rats.

Support or Funding Information

FAPESP
Thyroid hormone deficiency disrupts respiratory control development and responses to hypoxia in newborn rat
Authors: Rousseau Jean‐Philippe , Kinkead Richard
Published: November 2023

The brain is an important target of thyroid hormones (THs) at all stage of life, however, the maximal vulnerability to an imbalance of TH supply occurs during the early development when the developing embryo/foetus is dependent on maternal supply of TH. During this time, any maternal TH deficiency, small or severe, can alter brain structure or function which can become progressively and substantially magnified during subsequent developmental periods to produce long‐lasting or permanent deficits. The earlier in development thyroid hormone deficiency occurs, the more profound effects it will have on the development of an organism and individual organs such as brain. There is an abundant literature on the effects of maternal TH deficiency on development and function of the central nervous system, lungs, neuromuscular junctions and diaphragm; however, little is known about this influence on respiratory control development. Because thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) are expressed in the fetal brain during gestation and they are present in the brainstem, we proposed that TH can influence respiratory control development in the newborn rodent. Specifically, we hypothesised that a perinatal deficiency in thyroid hormones is sufficient to disrupt the development of respiratory circuits in the rodent. Thyroid hormone deficiency in the foetus was recreated by administrating an antithyroid susbstance (Methimazole;MMI) in drinking water of the pregnant dam at concentration of 0,02% (weight per volume; w/v) from the first day of pregnancy (gestational day 1; GD1) to the day of experiment with the newborn. In‐vitro and in‐vivo measurements were performed on Sprague Dawley rats aged of 1 and 4 days (P1–P4). Fictive breathing (in‐vitro) was measured by extracting the brainstem with a part of the spinal cord and placing it in a chamber where it was superfused with an artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF). The output signal from the respiratory network was recorded by a suction electrode placed on the fourth ventral root representing the inspiratory signal sent to the diaphragm via the phrenic nerve. Measurements of ventilatory activity (in‐vivo) in newborn pups were performed using whole‐body, flow‐through plethysmography. Development of the hypoxic chemoreflex was compared between groups in each protocol using a 15 minutes period hypoxia. By comparison with controls, pups from MMI treated dams did show age‐dependent decrease in phrenic burst frequency under normoxic conditions. In 4 days old pups (MMI), phrenic burst depression was not observed during hypoxia. The in‐vivo results from the whole‐body plethysmography reveal a decrease in the basal minute ventilation (VE) in treated 1 day old pups and a blunted hypoxic ventilatory response. We conclude that thyroid deficiency during perinatal period alters the respiratory control development and responsiveness to a hypoxic challenge.

Support or Funding Information

Supported by NSERC.
Canonical Transient Receptor Potential 4 Protein Encodes High Frequency Calcium Transients in Severe Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Francis Christopher Michael , Xu Ningyong , Zhou Chun , Stevens Troy
Published: November 2023

Canonical transient receptor potential 4 protein (TRPC4) comprises an endothelial store‐operated calcium entry channel, and TRPC4 inactivation confers a survival benefit in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Store‐operated endothelial Ca2+ signals mediated by TRPC4 enhance vascular permeability, but the contribution of TRPC4 to endothelial cytosolic Ca2+ signals and to the regulation of endothelial permeability in the vasculopathy of PAH is poorly understood. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that TRPC4 increases the frequency of localized endothelial Ca2+ transients and vascular permeability in PAH. We measured permeability in isolated perfused lungs, and found that TRPC4 exaggerated permeability responses to thapsigargin in Sugen/hypoxia treated hypertensive rats. We compared the endothelial Ca2+ activity of wild type and TRPC4 knockout hypertensive rats using confocal microscopy, and evaluated how Ca2+ signals were influenced in response to thapsigargin and sequential treatment with acetylcholine. We found that thapsigargin‐stimulated Ca2+ signals were increased in hypertension, and recovered by TRPC4 inactivation. Store depletion revealed bimodal Ca2+ responses to acetylcholine, with both short (<30 s) and long duration (>30 s) populations. Robust long duration responses to acetylcholine were abolished in PAH. Thus, TRPC4 underlies an exaggerated endothelial permeability response in hypertension. Furthermore, TRPC4 increased the frequency of endothelial Ca2+ transients in severe pulmonary arterial hypertension, suggesting that TRPC4 provides a calcium source associated with endothelial dysfunction in the pathophysiology of PAH.

Support or Funding Information

This work was funded by NIH grants HL60024 and HL66299
Acid Sensing Ion Channel 1 Contributes to Hypoxia‐Induced Proliferation and Hypertrophy in Mouse Pulmonary Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Yellowhair Tracylyn R. , Herbert Lindsay M. , Resta Thomas C. , Jernigan Nikki L.
Published: November 2023

Pulmonary hypertension is a common complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and results from vasoconstriction and pulmonary arterial remodeling. Our laboratory has shown that acid sensing ion channel 1 (ASIC1) contributes to the arterial remodeling associated with chronic hypoxia‐induced pulmonary hypertension. However, the specific role of ASIC1 in hypoxia‐induced migration, proliferation and hypertrophy of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMC) is currently unknown. We hypothesize that ASIC1 contributes to PASMC proliferation and hypoxia‐induced hypertrophy. To determine involvement of ASIC1 in proliferation, PASMC from wildtype (ASIC1+/+) and ASIC1 knockout (ASIC1−/−) mice were incubated with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU; 10 μM) for 24, 48, and 72 hrs. PASMC were fixed and labeled with a conjugated Anti‐BrdU FITC antibody to measure BrdU incorporation in newly synthesized DNA by flow cytometric analysis. At 24, 48, and 72 hrs, the total amount of BrdU incorporation was increased in PASMC from ASIC1+/+ mice compared to PASMC from ASIC1−/− mice. To determine the contribution of ASIC1 to hypoxia‐induced hypertrophy, PASMC from ASIC1+/+ and ASIC1−/− mice were exposed to normoxia (21% O2, 5% CO2) or hypoxia (2–4% O2, 5% CO2) for 24, 48, or 72 hrs. Unlabeled fixed cells were processed by flow cytometry using the forward scatter parameter to determine cell size. Exposure to hypoxia increased PASMC size in both groups, however the hypertrophic response was greater in PASMC from ASIC1+/+ mice compared to PASMC from ASIC1−/− mice at 24, 48, and 72 hrs. These data demonstrate that ASIC1 contributes to proliferation and hypoxia‐induced hypertrophy of PASMC and provides an understanding of the mechanism(s) by which ASIC1 contributes to pulmonary arterial remodeling associated with chronic hypoxia‐induced pulmonary hypertension.

Support or Funding Information

This work was supported by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Grants HL‐92598 (to N. L. Jernigan), HL‐111084 (to N. L. Jernigan), and the American Physiological Society STRIDE program (R25 HL115473)
Effect of educational games on knowledge acquisition in physiology
Authors: Marcondes Fernanda Klein , Gavião Kelly Cristina , Cardozo Lais Tono , Moraes Antonio Bento Alves
Published: November 2023

Educational games may be used to have students participate actively in the teaching‐learning process, making them learn more effectively and readily. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two educational games on students’ knowledge acquisition. The games were applied to dental students attending physiology classes during the first (game 1: membrane resting potential) and second (game 2: cardiac cycle) semesters. The students were assigned to two groups: control (n=33); and games (n=30). Concerning the membrane resting potential class, all the students attended a lecture on such topic and were instructed to read a book for an assessment they would participate in the subsequent class. On the day of the assessment, the control students did an exam before the game was applied and the game students took the exam after doing the game activity on membrane resting potential. Regarding the cardiac cycle, the game group attended a 50‐min lecture on the special characteristics of cardiac cells; however, no information on the sequence and details of the events of cardiac cycle was provided. The control students attended a 100‐min lecture involving the content of class given to the game group plus detailed information about the events of cardiac cycle. All the students were told to go over the lessons provided in class and read the textbook. They were informed that an assessment would be applied in the subsequent class. At the beginning of the second class, the control students performed the evaluation before the activity with the educational game. Students of the game group performed an activity with the puzzle of cardiac cycle before the evaluation. Data concerning the score and number of incorrect answers of the control and game group were submitted to paired Student t test. The score of the game group concerning action potential was higher (7.9 ± 0.3) and the number of wrong answers was lower (1.6 ± 0.3) in comparison with those of the control (6.4 ± 0.3; 2.7 ± 0.3, respectively). With regard to the cardiac cycle, the game group showed a higher score (7.2 ± 0.2) and a lower number of incorrect answers (2.7 ± 0.4) when compared to the control (5.5 ± 0.3; 5.6 ± 0.7). According to these results, the educational games seemed to improve the students’ knowledge acquisition in both situations: when used as a practice activity to improve the comprehension of a subject already assessed in a lecture (game 1) and when used as a teaching activity without previous lecture on the subject (game 2).

Support or Funding Information

FAEPEX ‐ UNICAMP, FAPESP.
“Fact‐Ways”: Teaching Cellular Signaling Using The Nobel Archives
Authors: Seidlitz Eric P , Nastos Stash , Rangachari P K
Published: November 2023

Freshmen biology courses often present facts as given rather than constructed. Rarely then do students recognize the time, effort, and investment that have produced those facts and sense the excitement and fascination of scientific research. In a large‐enrolment first‐year course (>180 students), we used active learning strategies to give health sciences students an appreciation of the process of scientific discovery by focusing on Nobel Prizes given to seminal discoveries in cellular signaling. Groups of students were asked to explore the works of a specific Nobel Laureate and their learning was assessed in one or more different formats that ranged from an individual written examination to different group activities (simulated interviews, generation of an open‐ended problem‐solving exercise, or a take home project). On a 10‐point scale, 619 students, over a period of 6 years, rated the learning value of the projects as follows: mean 7.2, median 7, mode 8, and range 1–10. The group projects received slightly higher rating than the individual exams. Deconstructing facts, rather than simply memorizing them, makes learning richer.

Support or Funding Information

None
Student feedback from independent study modules on prerequisite review and areas of misconception in physiology
Authors: Laudadio Rachel E , Wilson Thad E
Published: November 2023

Physiological misconceptions impede student learning and progress, as these topics are subsequently difficult to change (Michaels, Adv Physiol Educ, 26:5–6, 2002). There are several well‐known areas in which students continue to hold physiological misconceptions at high incidence rates. Related are misconceptions about or inappropriate application of fundamental information from other disciplines such as physics needed for physiology concept formation. Thus, a high‐yield independent tutorial (HIT) approach (Laudadio, FASEB J, 29:541.35, 2015), which students review, apply, and self‐assess, may be able to address misconception areas without loss of valuable in‐class instructional time. Each HIT contains: mini‐lecture, examples, do‐it‐yourself exercises, and self‐assessment questions. HITs were produced in an effort to have useful, self‐contained modules that students at various levels of physiology training could use for review or concept clarification. To determine if this goal had been met and to refine the development of these tutorials, different student cohorts completed topic modules and surveys. Surveys were developed in Qualtrics and contained qualitative and quantitative questions related to demographic information, content delivery, and comprehension. Based on this study's student feedback, individual HITs will be refined. The HIT approach appears to have promise with respects to addressing areas of physiological misconception but additional studies are needed to further test the efficacy of these tutorials.
Integration of Digital/Blended Pedagogy and a Data Acquisition System to Enhance Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory Teaching for Allied Health Students: A Learner‐Centric Strategy
Authors: Dutta Kaushik (Kash)
Published: November 2023

Undergraduate science laboratory teaching can be challenging and complex with millennial students, whose preparedness and expectations may be varied and at times misaligned with course goals and learning outcomes. This workshop presentation focuses on the use of innovative multimedia content and a data acquisition system to support several pedagogical strategies, including blended instruction and just in time teaching, designed to engage students and facilitate active learning. Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) laboratory exercises require a good balance of content and effective delivery methodology to streamline student learning and enhance student comprehension. Transforming undergraduate teaching labs in A&P is particularly important because students have a unique opportunity to learn collaboratively with their peers and participate as subjects in the collection of human physiological data. Students often struggle to connect specific physiological data to big picture concepts. Thus, engaging students before, during and after lab is an important strategy. The author will present examples from a laboratory curriculum that incorporates digital data acquisition and analysis coupled with customized content to maintain continuity of student learning between lecture and laboratory. In particular, the author will share lessons created on AD Instruments’ latest cloud based authoring/recording software solution called Lt. The ability to curate multimedia content, multi‐format assessment questions and grading is a powerful yet flexible way to design custom lessons and labs on Lt platform. These approaches enable students to integrate basic science knowledge and apply it clinically. The author will also share survey results and student comments about their experiences with this customized blended lab curriculum.
The Formation of Student Learning Communities in a Life Science First‐Year Course
Authors: Parks Lisa , Lubischer Jane
Published: November 2023

First‐year programs, increasingly common in undergraduate institutions, have been shown to have positive consequences both for students and for institutions. At NC State, our Life Sciences First Year Program (LSFY) includes a new course entitled Critical and Creative Thinking in the Life Sciences (LSC 101). This course uses a variety of approaches, with case studies and extensive group work incorporated into each class. Students are required to solve problems, design experiments, interpret data, and report as a cooperative team. The learning outcomes for this course relate to four areas: (1) critical and creative thinking, (2) rhetoric of science, (3) nature and conduct of science, and (4) science of learning. Almost all LSC 101 course activities and some of the formative assessments require interactions within small groups of students. There are also explicit acknowledgements of the potential value of group work – for example, the intellectual standards of critical thinking discussed in class include a definition of “breadth” that emphasizes the value of different points of view. LSC 101 sections are also smaller in size than most other courses (e.g., Biology, Chemistry) taken by Life Science First Year students.

At the end of their first semester, students in LSC 101 completed a survey to provide an assessment of their interactions with other LSC 101 students. Students reported a high rate (94.1%) of making new friends in LSC 101, and 64.7% reported that they formed study groups with LSC 101 colleagues to study for other courses ‐‐ including their introductory biology and chemistry courses. Early measures of academic success on this first cohort of LSFY students are positive: 97% were in good standing at the end of the first semester (compared to 92–93% in cohorts that predated the LSFY and LSC 101), 66% of underrepresented students in LSFY earned a 3.0 GPA or better in their first semester (better than 8 of the 9 academic colleges at NC State), and retention of LSFY students after one year was 95% (compared to 93% campus‐wide). We will continue to follow these students (and collect data on additional LSFY cohorts) to determine if the formation of student learning communities fostered by LSC 101 correlates with student success in upper‐level courses and graduation rates.
In Final Examinations, Quality of Essay Plan Correlates with The Essay Mark
Authors: Langton Phil
Published: November 2023

Despite issues over the assigning definitive marks to essays (Bloxham et al., 2015), they remain a key assessment tool in many programmes (Scouller et al., 2008). Course work is often constructed using word processors but, essays written in end of year examinations are traditionally hand written and time limited, despite evidence that different skills are required (Mogey & Fluck, 2014). We investigated whether planning, that has been suggested to positively contribute to essay quality (Hounsell, 1984), correlated with the mark awarded to the essay. The method was a post‐hoc examination of a complete set of recent final examination scripts for the three Units of the Physiological Sciences programme. Ignoring the mark sheet, so as to remain blind to the mark awarded, each essay booklet was examined to establish if there was an essay plan. Plans were graded according to a four point criteria with a maximum total of 10 marks:

Title present = 0 to 1 mark

Structure evident = 0 to 2 marks

Scope of theplan= 0 to 4 marks

Reference works listed = 0 to 3 marks

After the plans were evaluated, the mark awarded for each essay (the mean of two marks) were taken from the official records of the examination. The essays that did not have a plan were excluded from the analysis.

Overall there were 104 essays that qualified. The marks for plan and essay were both normally distributed. The marks for the plan had an average of 4.1 (range 1 to 10) and for the essay the average was 63.8% (range 42 to 94%). Evidence of an association between the mark given for the essay and the plan was determined by a Pearson correlation analysis. A statistically significant non‐zero correlation was found to exist (p<0.001). The Pearson correlation coefficient (r2), which indicates the degree of correlation, was 0.57.

In summary, there is a statistically robust correlation between the mark awarded to the essay plan and the mark independently awarded to the essay. The mark awarded to the plan and the mark awarded to the essay were normally distributed and showed a positive correlation with an r2 value greater than 0.5, which is a large effect. The data support the assertion that students who plan their structure of their essay achieve higher marks despite the loss of writing time. Ongoing work will test the hypothesis that planning improves performance in written argument.
Promoting Motivationally and Educationally Productive Behaviors with Collaborative Testing
Authors: Cortright Ronald N , Lujan Heidi , Johnson Lindsay A , DiCarlo Stephen E
Published: November 2023

Students must understand how to learn, unlearn and relearn. This will require that students take initiative for learning, are skilled in learning, and want to learn new things. Learning occurs when students have intrinsic motivation and personal interest in the educational material. This occurs because when students are intrinsically motivated, they search for meaning and general concepts and connect the new information with previous knowledge. We hypothesized that collaborative group testing would enhance our students’ level of intrinsic motivation. To test this hypothesis, we administered the intrinsic motivation inventory (IMI) to assess our students’ interest and enjoyment, perceived choice, and perceived competence while taking our undergraduate exercise physiology class. The interest and enjoyment subscale is considered the self‐reported measure of intrinsic motivation. The perceived choice and perceived competence concepts are theorized to be positive predictors of both self‐reported and behavioral measures of intrinsic motivation. The IMI was administered on the first and last day of class for three courses using collaborative testing (summer sessions 1 and 2 of 2014, and summer session 1 of 2015) and three courses using traditional testing (summer sessions 1 and 2 of 2013, and summer session 2 of 2015). All six courses were taught by the same instructor. Only collaborative group testing was associated with an increase in intrinsic motivation. Collaborative group learning had the additional advantage that students learned course content as well as the interpersonal skills required to work together effectively. The instructor's impressions and student comments indicated that collaborative group testing was motivating, fun, challenging, and enhanced learning as well as non‐cognitive skills.
Exploring Ecogeography, Drift, and Selection on the Macaque Cranium
Authors: Williams Samuel Joseph , Auerbach Benjamin Miller
Published: November 2023

The human cranium is one of the most studied osteological complexes among primates due to its size, good preservation in the paleontological record, and its wide morphological diversity. As H. sapiens is the last extant member of its genus, we must turn to related genera to answer questions regarding variation among species and the evolutionary forces that produce it. This pilot study uses morphometric data collected from skeletons of three species of macaques (M. fascicularis, M. nemestrina, M. radiata) housed at UC Davis. Following the work of Lande, Ackermann and Cheverud the data are used to 1) examine the phenotypic variation present in the cranium of each species by cranial region, 2) to test for deviation from a null model of neutral microevolution (i.e. genetic drift), and 3) to quantify the selection gradients for each trait by species.

For the analysis, 15 linear distances were extracted from a series of 16 ectocranial landmarks that were collected using MicroScribe 3DX digitizer. In order to analyze how variance was apportioned within the cranium, a series of PCAs were performed 1) on all measurements combined and 2) by cranial module (basicranium, neurocranium and splanchnocranium). The selection analysis was performed using a linear regression incorporating both between‐species and within‐species variance/covariance matrices following the method outlined in work by Ackermann and Cheverud. Then, using the between‐species phenotypic variance/covariance matrix, pairwise selection gradients were calculated for each macaque species. To assess whether directional selection in these traits was different from zero, a sample distribution of selection gradient values was generated by bootstrapping values for the within‐species phenotypic variance/covariance matrix as well as the between‐species variance/covariance matrix at 1000 iterations each, from which 95% confidence intervals were generated.

The results from this study indicate that phenotypic variance in the Macaca cranium has been driven largely by selection since the divergence of the genus from the last common ancestor (LCA) of Papionini some 9–10 million years ago. This preliminary analysis indicates that all three groups have been subject to strong selection in the upper and lower face (including the maxilla). Increases in body size drove a higher degree of flexion of the cranial base in facscicularis and radiata. It is unclear if selection is directly acting on body size, in turn affecting facial morphology, or on aspects of craniofacial variation. In nemestrina, the driver of variation is still unclear, although hybridization is suspected at present. In all cases, a departure from the ancestral pattern of trait covariation is plausible, although how and which traits covary requires further analysis. These results warrant further investigation via process modeling in order to rule out other complicating factors such as hybridization and heterochrony.
The Effects on Subtalar Neutral Angle in Non‐Weight Bearing Position on Postural Stability
Authors: Gan Quan Fu , Dalayi Navajyothi , Simon Christopher , Chinnavan Elanchezhian , Rajagopal Naidu Sawri Rajan
Published: November 2023

Study Objective

PS can be classified into static and dynamic balance which is affected by muscle strength as well as the body alignment. The skeletal structure serve as leavers and joints serve as fulcrums of the body which affect the mechanical advantage of the skeletal muscles in order to maintain PS. Apart from that, the foot is the most distal segment of the body which may influence the individual's ability to balance. Hence, this study is done to study the subtalar neutral angle in non‐weight bearing position and its relationship to PS.

Methodology

216 healthy participants age between 15 to 24 years were recruited for this study using convenience sampling methods. Their subtalar neutral angle were measured in non‐weight bearing position using the technique proposed by Everu and colleagues. Their static and dynamic stability were measured using Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) and Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) respectively. The results will be recorded and interpreted using correlation methods with SPSS version 22 software.

Results

There is a strong negative correlation between the subtalar neutral angle in non‐weight bearing position and dynamic balance in medial direction (P < 0.01) and posterior direction (P = 0.01). There are negative correlation between subtalar neutral angle in non‐weight bearing position and dynamic balance in lateral direction and anterolateral direction (P < 0.05) and posteromedial direction (P = 0.05). There are no correlation between subtalar joint neutral angle in non‐weight bearing position and static balance and dynamic balance in anterior, anterior medial and posterolateral (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Individuals with more valgus subtalar neutral angle in non‐weight bearing position have better dynamic postural stability in medial, posterior, lateral, anterolateral, and posteromedial direction. However, this angle does not affect the static balance and dynamic balance in anterior, anterior medial and posterolateral direction.

Support or Funding Information

No funding
Primate Diversity of the Nasal Conchae: Are there Functional Differences?
Authors: Kimura Nikki Hanae , Pagano Anthony S , Lawson William , Márquez Samuel
Published: November 2023

Despite their great importance in normal respiration, the nasal conchae have undergone a substantial amount of evolutionary change among the primates. With strepsirhines retaining a primitive condition of four to six ethmoturbinals situated in a committed recessus olfactorius, haplorhines have departed from this condition by expressing only one or two ethmoturbinals and lacking a transverse ethmoidal lamina that would otherwise separate respiratory and olfactory areas of the nose. Among the most derived of the haplorhines are humans, who have undergone a substantial restructuring of the facial skeleton and upper airway over the evolution of the genus Homo. Yet, even among humans, there is an impressive array of variation that may, at times, become of clinical importance. We assessed variability in the number of conchae among 16 human cadavers (nine females and seven males). It was found that all possessed a total of three nasal conchae but a great amount of diversity in the size and appearance of the ethmoturbinals was present. We found two cases of a bifid first ethmoturbinal, one case of concha bullosa, and one case of an extremely small second ethmoturbinal. The results indicate that, among humans, the inferior turbinate is far less variable in morphology than the ethmoturbinals. This is likely related to its role as the primary center for heat and moisture exchange during normal respiration. We posit that this is a functionally constrained structure that cannot accommodate as much morphological variation as the ethmoturbinals, which lie further from the areas of highest airflow velocity.
Gape and Fiber Architecture of the Chewing Muscles in Primates and Phalangeroid Marsupials
Authors: Perry Jonathan M G , Fricano Ellen E I , Harper Tony M
Published: November 2023

The degree to which an animal opens its mouth during biologically important behaviors (gape) has consequences for and is influenced by the anatomy of the chewing system and the skull. Gape is important in various contexts, for example, during ingestion of food items or during social displays. It can also be measured in different ways, for example on osteological specimens or when soft tissues are intact. Here we compare a novel means of estimating gape on osteological specimens to ecological data in primates and in phalangeroid marsupials. This technique consists of abducting the mandible by rotating and translating the mandibular condyle with respect to the glenoid fossa to a point just prior to the loss of contact between the articular surfaces. Then the gape angle and the distance between prosthion (near the base of the upper incisors) and infradentale (near the base of the lower incisors) are measured. These landmarks were chosen to minimize the effects of incisor wear and breakage. This method provides a repeatable estimate of maximum bony gape (MBG) expressed as an angle or a linear distance. In a large sample of primates, MBG is correlated with maximum ingested food size from experimental studies, even when controlling for body size (r‐squared = 0.45), but it is not well correlated with some other estimates of gape (maximum anesthetized gape, condyle height). In a sample of phalangeroids, there is no clear and consistent relationship between MBG and diet, but it is noteworthy that the unusual extractive forager Dactylopsila trivirgata has a very large gape estimate, as does the convergent extractive‐foraging lemur, Daubentonia madagascariensis. We also explored the relationship between gape and chewing muscle architecture by testing the hypothesis that the anterior portions of the chewing musculature (especially in the masseter) have longer fibers than the posterior portions because the former are more vulnerable to stretch during wide gapes. This required the dissection of preserved specimens of strepsirrhines and phalangeroids. In strepsirrhine primates, generally the anterior portions of the masseter and temporalis (but not medial pterygoid) had longer fibers than the posterior portions. Thus, not only the masseter, but also the temporalis, is vulnerable to stretch during gape. In the phalangeroids studied, one component of the masseter complex consistently had longer anterior than posterior fibers, but no clear pattern characterized the other muscles. Primates and phalangeroid marsupials are separated from each other by many millions of years of evolution; however, some form‐function relationships characterize the chewing system in both groups, suggesting that these are true cases of adaptation.