Dr. Arthur Leon, professor of kinesiology, was awarded the American Board of Cardiology Award of Excellence and Designation as Laureate of the American Board of Cardiology.
The American Board of Cardiology initiated this program to recognize physicians, who exhibit continuing excellence and highest ethical practice and are deserving of lifetime achievement recognition. The program promotes and supports recognition of the importance of exceptional excellence in Cardiology, and excellence of humanitarian and ethical achievement, including true empathy, compassion, and humanitarianism.
Chen receives conference travel award
Yi Chou (Chris) Chen, doctoral student and member of the Affordance Perception-Action Laboratory (APAL), has received a competitive award that will allow him to present his research at the Biology and Control of Nausea and Vomiting 2013 Conference, held in Pittsburgh, Pa., October 3-4.
The title of his presentation is, “Postural precursors of post-bout nausea in boxers.” Professor of kinesiology and director of the APAL, Dr. Thomas A. Stoffregen, is the co-author of the presentation and Chen’s advisor.
Funding for this award was provided by the conference.
Konczak publishes review in Neurology
Jürgen Konczak, Ph.D., professor of kinesiology and director of the Human Sensorimotor Control Laboratory, is coauthor of a systematic review in the journal Neurology on the frequency of ataxia in children. The review found that the worldwide prevalence of pediatric ataxia is higher than previously assumed. Childhood ataxia in Europe was estimated to be ~26/100, 000 children, and likely reflects a minimum prevalence worldwide.
Ataxia refers to uncoordinated movement due to a muscle control problem that causes an inability to coordinate movements. It leads to a jerky, unsteady, to-and-fro motion of the middle of the body (trunk) and an unsteady gait (walking style). It can also affect the limbs. People with ataxia have problems with coordination because parts of the nervous system that control movement and balance are affected. Ataxia may affect the fingers, hands, arms, legs, body, speech, and eye movements.
CEHD Vision 2020 Blog features Gao
Dr. Zan Gao, assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology, had his work on exergaming featured in the CEHD Vision 2020 Blog.
The feature is titled, “Yes, Video Games Can Combat Childhood Obesity,” and explains the emergence of exergaming and evidence-based benefits of exergaming. He also shares some tips for parents to best take advantage of exergaming activities for children:
1. Proper training and instruction is important
2. Set and define the learning objectives of exergaming
3. Create a routine
4. Do it together!
Gao publishes two papers in Research Quarterly
Dr. Zan Gao, assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology, recently had two research articles accepted for publication in the September issue of Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport.
Gao served as lead author in an article titled, “The impact of achievement goals on cardiorespiratory fitness: Does self-efficacy make a difference?” This research tested a model of the mediating role of self-efficacy on children’s achievement goals in relationship to cardiorespiratory fitness. In addition, he was co-author in, “Associations among motor skill competence and health-related fitness: Evidence for Seefeldt’s proficiency barrier in young adults?” The lead author David Stodden is a collaborator from University of South Carolina.
Dengel and colleagues publish in BMC Pediatrics.
Donald Dengel, Ph.D., professor in the School of Kinesiology and director of the Laboratory of integrative Human Physiology and colleagues recently published an article in BMC Pediatrics. The article was titled, “Relation of adiposity, television and screen time in offspring to their parents.” The research found that for both parent and offspring, adiposity (i.e., body fat) was greater with greater total screen time.
Continue reading “Dengel and colleagues publish in BMC Pediatrics.”
Dengel presents at U of M’s Pediatrics Grand Rounds
Professor of kinesiology Dr. Donald Dengel recently presented at the University of Minnesota, Department of Pediatrics Ground Rounds. The title of Dr. Dengel’s talk was, “Pediatric Vascular Health: Growing Up.”
Watch the entire talk below:
Ji and Kang to publish set of articles
Li Li Ji, Ph.D., director of the School of Kinesiology and director of the Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene and Exercise Science (LPHES) along with postdoctoral fellow Choughun Kang, Ph.D., have recently had two articles accepted for publication.
The first article is entitled, “Muscle Immobilization and Remobilization Down-regulates PGC-1α Signaling and Mitochondrial Biogenesis Pathway,” and will be published in the Journal of Applied Physiology. The second article is titled, “Exercise training attenuates aging-associated mitochondrial dysfunction in rat skeletal muscle: Role of PGC-1α,” and is set to be published in Experimental Gerontology. Both papers represent a major research focus of the LPHES.
Ji publishes in special issue of Journal of Sport and Health Science
Li Li Ji, Ph.D., director of the School of Kinesiology and director of the Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene and Exercise Science, published and served as a guest editor for a special issue of Journal of Sport and Health Science. The issue is titled, “Healthy aging: Role of exercise and reactive oxygen species.”
Within the issue Ji’s editorial piece was titled, “Healthy aging: Cellular insights.” Dr. Ji and post doctoral fellow Chounghun Kang, Ph.D., had a review article published called, “Role of PGC-1α in muscle function and aging.” Additionally, Ji was a co-author of a review article titled, “Mitochondrial redox metabolism in aging: Effect of exercise interventions.”
School of Kinesiology and China Center host delegation from Tianjin University of Sport
A delegation of 15 administrators, including the university president, from Tianjin University of Sport (TUS), Tianjin, China, is visiting the University of Minnesota for two weeks and attending a series of workshops on higher education administration. The University of Minnesota’s China Center and School of Kinesiology are hosting the delegation. TUS is the home of the American Cultural Center for Sport, established in early 2012 with programming provided by the China Center and School of Kinesiology.
Six School of Kinesiology faculty have visited TUS since the cultural center’s inception and presented on a variety of topics. The School of Kinesiology’s China relationships are part of a broader vision to increase internationalization providing global experience, outreach, and knowledge for our students, faculty, and companion institutions.
Stoffregen to publish in Ecological Psychology
Professor of kinesiology and director of the Affordance Perception-Action Laboratory (APAL), Dr. Thomas A. Stoffregen, has had an article accepted for publication in Ecological Psychology.
The article is titled, “On the physical origins of inverted optic images,” and describes how inverted images (such as those formed by the human eye) naturally occur in physical systems that pre-date the origins of life. This research suggests that visual systems, both biological and technological, evolved from pre-existing physical phenomena, rather than being created, de novo, by living things.
Ji gives invited lectures during the summer
Li Li Ji, Ph.D., director of the School of Kinesiology and director of the Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene and Exercise Science gave four invited lectures during the summer.
- On May 24, he gave a lectured titled, “PGC-1α Over-Expression Attenuates Mitochondrial Disorder and Inflammation in Muscle Disuse Atrophy,” at the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center at the University of Minnesota.
- On June 6, he gave a speech titled, “Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Function of PGC-1α.” Ji was invited to lecture at the 5th International Symposium of Nutrition, Oxygen Biology and Medicine held in Paris, France.
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Dengel and Bosch receive pilot grant
Associate professor of kinesiology Dr. Donald Dengel and doctoral student Tyler Bosch received a pilot grant from the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at the University of Minnesota.
With this grant they will examine a novel method for segmenting lower extremity body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
Ingraham weighs in on new exercise trend: CrossFit
Dr. Stacy Ingraham, lecturer in the School of Kinesiology, describes the dangers of a new exercise fad called CrossFit in a University “Health Talk” article.
CrossFit is an exercise program where participants engage in explosive movements that require a great deal of athleticism and movement competency. In the article, “Is CrossFit doing more harm than good? U of M experts weigh in,” Ingraham explains that the program is almost “cult-like and addicting.” She notes that this kind of physical activity can lead to severe injuries, especially if the participant is older.
Ingraham says there is also a danger in who is leading the program. “Just because they have defined deltoids, triceps and biceps that look appealing in a ‘trainer’ t-shirt, these characteristics don’t always mean they have the credentials necessary to teach highly technical movement patterns under stress,” she says.
Wade presents paper and poster at XVII ICPA
Professor Michael Wade, Ph.D., delivered a paper and poster presentation at the XVII International Conference on Perception and Action (ICPA), in Estoril, Portugal. The title of the paper was, “Atypical motor development: A case of disrupted perception/action synergy,” and the poster, “Learning to look at the horizon.”
The paper presentation was based on an atypical group of individuals and their postural stability when given a larger task load. The poster presentation was part of Dr. Tom Stoffregen’s research on postural stability at sea; investigating how individuals adapt to changes in spatial magnitude such as experience at sea.
Konczak publishes in Frontiers of Human Neuroscience
Jürgen Konczak, Ph.D., professor of kinesiology and director of the Human Sensorimotor Control Laboratory, recently published a review article titled, “Focal dystonia in musicians: linking motor symptoms to somatosensory dysfunction.” The article was published in the open-access journal, Frontiers of Human Neuroscience. The article focuses on how altered proprioceptive feedback ultimately leads to a loss of voluntary motor control.
Italian neurologist Giovanni Abbruzzese, an expert in movement disorders served as co-author.
Konczak organizes international workshop; Aman presents paper
Jürgen Konczak, Ph.D., professor of kinesiology and director of the Human Sensorimotor Control Laboratory, organized an international workshop titled, “Proprioception, Proprioceptive Dysfunction and Robotic Neurorehabilitation,” with colleagues from the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa, Italy on July 15-16.
Joshua Aman, Ph.D., post-doctoral research associate in the Human Sensorimotor Control Laboratory (HSCL), presented a paper entitled “What do we know about the effectiveness of proprioceptive training?: A meta analysis,” at the workshop.
The interdisciplinary workshop convened a group of experts with diverse backgrounds in biomedical and mechanical engineering, human movement science, neurology, neuroscience, physical therapy, physiology, and psychology. The aim of the workshop was to discuss current findings on proprioceptive dysfunction and how it impacts motor behavior. Other goals were to determine an outline for future research and to develop a framework of how new (robotic) rehabilitation techniques can help to overcome current barriers in treating patients who experience sensorimotor dysfunctions associated with proprioceptive loss.
TC intern earns Academic All-Conference honors
Emma Leyden, Tucker Center intern and women’s basketball player at Macalester College,
was recently awarded Academic All-Conference honors by the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC).
Leyden studies psychology while serving as co-captain and point guard for her team at Macalester College. A Tucker Center intern for the past two summers, she hopes to continue to learn more about how she can make a difference in gender equity in sports, and she is excited to be a part of groundbreaking research.
MIAC Academic All-Conference honors are awarded to student-athletes who have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and have competed in 50% of their team’s varsity regular season contests with this certificate.
Leon highlighted in School of Nursing publication
Dr. Arthur Leon, professor of kinesiology, was mentioned in an article in the School of Nursing’s Minnesota Nursing Spring/Summer 2013 issue. The article, “Student Researcher Learns from Exercise Physiologists, Cardiologists and Nurses,” describes Dr. Leon’s role in assisting students with research. He is working with doctoral student Dereck Salisbury and nursing student Rebecca Brown on a peripheral artery disease study. Dr. Ulf Bronas, former doctoral student of Leon, is also in collaboration with this project.
“Dr. Leon is always looking for those teachable moments,” said Brown. “He carefully explains each of his decisions and will take the time needed to discuss and make sure I understand.”
Image courtesy of Minnesota Nursing Spring/Summer 2013 issue
Sattler places first among women in the Heck of the North race
Graduate student Monika Sattler placed first among women in the annual Heck of the North 102-mile bicycle race which takes place annually in Duluth, Minn. In 2012, Sattler placed 20th of 150 riders total, only 15 of which were women.
The Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine details the scenic and intense race in the article, “Rough Riders.” The race path is described as “…75 percent gravel, 20 percent pavement, and 5 percent trails and paths.” The article further notes that the riders are cautioned to be self-supported and to carry whatever they need as the race is extremely remote with limited assistance.
Image courtesy of Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine, July – August 2013 issue