NIH awards grant to Konczak lab to develop technology for treating a voice disorder

November 9, 2017

Jürgen Konczak, Ph.D., professor in the School of Kinesiology is the principal investigator on an NIH funded grant program administered through the University’s Office of Discovery and Translation that seeks to promote new therapies for rare diseases. The project will design and build a device that will improve the symptoms of a voice disorder called spasmodic dysphonia (SD).

People with SD experience involuntary spasms of the laryngeal musculature that leads to a strained or choked speech. There is no cure for the disease and speech therapy is ineffective. The device will alter how it feels when one speaks. The idea behind the technology is that this sensory trick will help patients to improve their voice quality. The device development and its testing will be conducted in Konczak’s Human Sensorimotor Control Laboratory.

Arash Mahnan, biomedical engineer and doctoral student in the HSC lab will serve as primary research assistant for this project.

Dengel publishes in Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging

November 9, 2017

Donald R. Dengel, Ph.D., professor in the School of Kinesiology and director of the Laboratory of Integrative Human Physiology, is lead author of an article published in the journal Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging. The article entitled “Reproducibility of blood oxygen level-dependent signal changes with end-tidal carbon dioxide alterations” examines the reproducibility of a new method to measure cerebral vascular reactivity using blood oxygen level-dependent signal changes in response to alterations in end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure during magnetic resonance imaging.

The methodology developed by this research establishes an accurate method for measuring blood vessel function in the brain, which may be used not only in
the comparison between various groups of individuals but also in longitudinal studies interested in treatment or examination of CVR over time (i.e., aging studies, traumatic brain injury evaluation).

Kinesiology’s Beth Bayley to perform in musical event “A Night At the Opera” at Gustavus Adolophus College

November 7, 2017

Beth Bayley, office manager in the School of Kinesiology and a soprano in the Minnesota Opera Chorus, will be performing at a musical event at Gustavus Adolphus College on November 18.

The collaborative concert, “A Night at the Opera,” features performers in southern Minnesota orchestras made up of elementary and high school students as well as adult volunteers, and is part of Minnesota Opera’s outreach endeavor, the CoOPERAtion Residency Program. The program sponsors tailor-made residencies in elementary and high schools in Minnesota communities to help kids learn about opera. Bayley also participated in a 2014 residency in Alexandria, which culminated in a concert with the Central Lakes Symphony Orchestra and Alexandria Area High School.

Bayley received her Doctor of Musical Arts from the U of M in 2016. She will be singing in this concert with two other Minnesota Opera performers. “I feel very privileged to work with the Minnesota Opera to bring opera to young people!” says Bayley. “Many of these residencies take place in communities where opera is not easily accessible, and the communities welcome us wholeheartedly.”

She has been performing and training with the Minnesota Opera since 2011. One of her most memorable experiences was workshopping the new opera, “The Manchurian Candidate” by Kevin Puts, which provided a look at the opera before it was completed. Bayley will be singing in their upcoming production of Massenet’s Thais in May, 2018.

More information about the Gustavus event and ticket availability can be found here.

LaVoi to speak at Gustavus Adolphus on Nov. 13

November 6, 2017

Gustavus Adolphus College alumna and School of Kinesiology senior lecturer Nicole LaVoi, Ph.D., will speak at her alma mater on Monday, November 13, on “Current Research on Girls and Women in Sport.” Her presentation will be held in Nobel Hall 201 at 5:30 p.m. Lavoi is also co-director of the School’s Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport.

LaVoi to participate in CEHD Alumni and Graduate Networking Event on Nov. 9

November 6, 2017

Nicole LaVoi, Ph.D., senior lecturer in the School of Kinesiology and co-director of the Tucker Center, will participate in a speaking panel at a CEHD Alumni and Graduate Networking Event on Thursday, November 9, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at McNamara Alumni Center, University Hall. The event, titled “Blaze Your Trail: Crafting a Career with Passion and Innovation,” features CEHD alumni who have forged unique career paths outside their degree programs. The panel will share their stories and ideas on channeling creativity into professional success.

The event is geared to CEHD graduate and professional students, and an RSVP required. See more details here.

Dengel gives talk at Winona State University

November 3, 2017

Donald R. Dengel, Ph.D., professor in the School of Kinesiology and director of the Laboratory of Integrative Human Physiology, presented at Winona State University, Department of Health, Exercise, and Rehabilitative Sciences on November 1, 2017.

The title of Dr. Dengel’s talk was “The A, B, C’s of Graduate School.”

Kinesiology undergraduate Elisheva Savvateev receives UROP award

November 2, 2017

Elisheva Savvateev, an undergraduate research assistant in the Affordance Perception-Action Laboratory (APAL), has received a U of M Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) award. Thomas Stoffregen, Ph. D., professor in the School of Kinesiology, supervises her project, “The driver passenger effect in head mounted virtual reality.” Continue reading “Kinesiology undergraduate Elisheva Savvateev receives UROP award”

Kinesiology alumna Yu-Ting Tseng awarded post-doc at National Health Research Institutes in Taiwan

October 31, 2017

Yu-Ting Tseng, Ph.D., 2017 graduate of the School of Kinesiology in the Biomechanics and Neuromotor Control emphasis, has been awarded a post-doc position in the Division of Child Health Research, Institute of Population Health Sciences in the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) in Zhunan, Taiwan, starting in November. She will be conducting a study on the effect of different types of exercise intervention on the motor, cognitive and overall physical and mental functions in children and older adults. She may also assist in evaluating the status and needs for special needs populations.

Dr. Tseng was advised by Kinesiology professor Jürgen Konczak, Ph.D.

Konczak gives lecture at Mini Medical School

October 30, 2017

Jürgen Konczak, Ph.D., professor and director of the Human Sensorimotor Control Laboratory in the School of Kinesiology, presented October 30 at the Academic Health Center’s Mini Medical School as part of their Fall 2017 series, “Medical Mysteries: Navigating Complex Health Cases.” His presentation with George S. Goding, Jr., M.D., professor in the Department of Otolaryngology, was titled “Finding a new treatment for the incurable voice disorder Spasmodic Dysphonia.” Konczak and Goding have been working with colleagues from Speech and Hearing Sciences and Engineering on a new treatment approach to improve the voice symptoms of patients with this voice disorder. Currently, there is no cure for the disease, though patients can get temporary relief through Botulinum toxin injections.

Comments from attendees after the presentation included:

This work gives me so much hope – what an interesting study!
Very interesting topic, more education on these topics is necessary so I am glad I was able to hear this presentation. Appreciated the presentation from both Dr’s because of the overlap!
Nicely simplified from complex information. Nice to hear U of M people are working together to make life better for those in need.
Loved the comment about calling around the U to find experts to help solve problems. There is so much happening at the U of M!!

Mini Medical School is a five-week program offered each semester that is designed to give individuals with a shared interest in health sciences the opportunity to examine the scientific foundations of health and disease presented by internationally renowned U of M experts who are shaping the way health care is delivered locally and globally.

Doctoral student Eydie Kramer presents at The Obesity Society meeting

October 26, 2017

Eydie Kramer, Ph.D. student in the School of Kinesiology and advised by Dr. Barr-Anderson, Ph.D., is presenting at The Obesiety Society annual meeting on October 31, 2017 in Washington D.C.

Kramer will present a study on yoga intervention for African-American women that was conducted in the Behavioral Physical Activity Lab (BPAL) in 2016. Her poster titled “I Heart Yoga! A Pilot, Culturally-Tailored Yoga Intervention for African-American Women With Obesity” was selected as a top 10 abstract.

2017-18 China Champions arrive at the U of M for a year of study and cultural experiences

October 25, 2017

Left to right: Fei Xie 谢菲 (Rhythmic Gymnastics), ShuJiao Jin 金淑娇 (Judo), Wen Tong 佟文 (Judo), YiLin Yang 杨伊琳 (Gymnastics), and YaFei Chu 禇亚飞 (Race Walking)

The School of Kinesiology and the University of Minnesota welcome this year’s China Champions, the fourth cohort of world-class athletes from China traveling to the U.S. to experience a year of study at the University of Minnesota.

This year’s students include a gymnast, two judokas, a race walker, and a rhythmic gymnast. The athletes won championships spanning national, international and Olympic competitions. Most of the athletes have completed their competitive careers and now work in the China Sport Administration or are coaches.

During the year, the China Champions will attend specially designed courses in the School of Kinesiology, including academic seminars, workshops, and classes in English as a Learned Language. Athletes will also visit Minnesota cultural sites and become familiar with the Twin Cities. The China Champions are available to visit classes around the U and share their personal experiences in training and achieving elite world championship status in their sport.

“The China Champions Program has been a truly wonderful partnership between University of Minnesota and Beijing Sport University,” says Jean Quam, dean of the College of Education and Human Development. “With each year, the program strengthens our international relationships and the University’s global visibility and collaboration.”

The University of Minnesota hosts the annual China Champions Program (CCP) to foster an exchange of culture, education and sport. Led by the School of Kinesiology in collaboration with Beijing Sport University and supported by the China Scholarship Council, CCP is a unique global collaboration that provides mutual benefits for Chinese athletes and University faculty, staff and students.

Read about these China Champions accomplishments.

LaVoi to present at Wellesley College Oct. 25

October 24, 2017

Nicole LaVoi, Ph.D., senior lecturer and co-director of the Tucker Center in the School of Kinesiology, will be guest speaking at Wellesley College on October 25 for the college’s LeadBLUE Athletic Leadership Academy. The title of her presentation is Building a Positive Team Culture.

Designed to facilitate leadership development tools and educational opportunities for all student-athletes, the LeadBLUE Athletic Leadership Academy aims to enhance the quality of team culture, student leadership, and the athletic experience at Wellesley.

LaVoi served as the head tennis coach at Wellesley from 1994-1998. See the complete announcement here.

Kihl co-organizer of Twin Cities sports panel discussion

October 23, 2017

Together with Gopher Athletics and the Minnesota Twins, Lisa A. Kihl, Ph.D., associate professor of sport management in the School of Kinesiology, organizes a panel discussion titled “Challenges and Future Landscape of the Twin Cities Sports Industry.”

The discussion will address opportunities and limits of the Twin Cities’ vibrant sport industry in a relatively small metropolitan area. The panelists include:

Mark Coyle, Athletic Director, University of Minnesota
Bryan Donaldson, Senior Director, Community Relations, Minnesota Twins
Dannon Hulskotter, Vice President, Marketing & Fan Engagement, Minnesota Vikings Football
Dave Mona, Sports media personality
Ryan Tanke, Chief Revenue Office, Minnesota Timberwolves

The event will be held at the TCF Bank Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 from 7 pm – 9 pm. It is free and open to the public.

For detailed information, see event flyer.

Ji spends productive sabbatical month at University of Valencia, Spain

October 20, 2017

Li Li Ji, Ph.D., professor and director of the LPHES in the School of Kinesiology, has finished a one-month visit to the University of Valencia, Spain, as part of his planned sabbatical activity. During his stay, he met with the University’s Faculty of Medicine led by Dr. Josè Viña, and with Dr. Carmen Gomez, a visiting scholar in LPHES last summer, to discuss continuing collaborations on research in the field of muscle biology and aging.

Ji gave two presentations to UV faculty, titled “Mechanism and prevention of muscle disuse atrophy via DNA transfection” and “Oat phytochemicals: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.” The University of Valencia Medical College is a highly respected institution in Europe, and its former dean, Santiago Ramón y Cajal, shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1906. Ji’s visiting professorship was sponsored by a grant from the European Union.

LaVoi presents at 2017 Japanese Women Coaches Academy meeting

October 20, 2017

Nicole LaVoi, Ph.D., senior lecturer and co-director of the Tucker Center in the School of Kinesiology, gave a presentation at the third annual Japanese Women Coaches Academy meeting held in Karuizawa, Japan, during the first week in September. LaVoi attended the meeting along with representatives from the U.K., Australia, and the top women in sport in Japan. She spoke on barriers and supports for female coaches based on her book, Women in Sports Coaching.

Lewis quoted in article on yoga and preventing weight gain in the Minnesota Daily

October 19, 2017

An article in the October 18 online issue of the Minnesota Daily features a study showing a relationship between the effect of practicing yoga and preventing weight gain. Researchers studied young adults who were overweight five years before the study, and found that those who engaged in yoga had a slight weight loss over time, while those who were not practicing yoga gained weight. Beth Lewis, Ph.D., professor and director in the School of Kinesiology, was quoted, saying: “[Yoga] has the potential to reach individuals who … want something that combines a physical activity that really deals with not only your mental health but your physical well-being.”

The study is part of a larger research initiative, Project EAT, which examines nutrition, physical activity and weight status among people in Minnesota ranging from adolescence to adulthood.

Inoue quoted in The Japan Times on college sports

October 17, 2017

Yuhei Inoue, Ph.D., assistant professor of sport management in the School of Kinesiology, is quoted in an article in The Japan Times, Japan’s largest English-language newspaper.

Inoue helped to organize former U of M athletic director Joel Maturi’s visit to Japan, where Maturi talked about the pros and cons of collegiate athletics in the United States. In the article titled, “Former Minnesota athletics chief Joel Maturi says Japan can benefit from college sports overhaul,” Inoue mentions the positive role collegiate sport can have for student communities.

Kinesiology graduate students Kronzer, Wood, and White to present at AASP Conference

October 16, 2017

Current School of Kinesiology and Sports Medicine Psychology Laboratory graduate students Joey Kronzer (M.S.), Kristin Wood (Ph.D.), and Andrew White (Ph.D.) will be presenting their research at the upcoming Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) annual conference in Orlando, Fl, on October 18th–21st.

Kronzer will be giving a 15-minute talk titled “Using E-Prime 2.0 to Develop Sport-Specific Video Analysis Training Protocols.”
Wood will be presenting a paper titled “Analyzing the Effectiveness of an Injury Education Program in Increasing Novice Marathoners’ Self-Efficacy in Adopting Proper Injury Management Strategies.”
White will be presenting a paper titled “Breadth or depth? Evaluating psychological, performance, and injury outcomes following multidimensional or focused mental skills training in marathoners.”

All three students are advised by Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, Ph.D., professor in the School of Kinesiology and director of the Sports Medicine Psychology Lab.

Dengel co-investigator on newly funded grant

October 16, 2017

Donald R. Dengel, Ph.D., professor in the School of Kinesiology and director of the Laboratory of Integrative Human Physiology, is a co-investigator on a grant funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The 3-year grant titled “Hypoglycemia After Exercise In Type 1 Diabetes: Intranasal Naloxone As A Novel Therapy To Preserve Hypoglycemia Counterregulation” will examine the effects of intranasal naloxone to preserve normal blood glucose levels during aerobic exercise in type 1 diabetics.

Gao publishes book chapter in Traditional Chinese physical activities

October 16, 2017

Zan Gao, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Kinesiology and director of the Physical Activity Epidemiology Laboratory (PAEL), recently published one book chapter as the co-author in Learning for a lifetime: Effective secondary physical education programs edited by Cothran and Keating.

Citation: Lu, C., & Gao, Z. (2017). Traditional Chinese physical activities. In Cothran, D.J. & Keating, X. (Ed.), Learning for a lifetime: Effective secondary physical education programs (pp. 273 – 287). Beijing, China: Education Science Publishing House.

CEHD News Kinesiology

CEHD News Kinesiology