University of Pittsburgh’s Neuromuscular Research Laboratory

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

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NMRL Director’s Note The University of Pittsburgh’s Neuromuscular Research Laboratory/Warrior

Human Performance Research Center (NMRL/WHPRC) has a rich research legacy

of studying musculoskeletal injury prevention and human performance

optimization. Established in 1987 as a collaborative effort between Dr. Scott

Lephart and Dr. Freddie Fu to primary study joint proprioception, neuromuscular

control, and functional joint stability in sport-centric injuries, the NMRL/WHPR

evolved to also study military-centric musculoskeletal injuries and human

performance optimization in 2005. Over the last 12 years, the University of

Pittsburgh NMRL/WHPRC has been one of the preeminent academic institutions

studying military human performance optimization and injury prevention (HPO/IP). We remain

committed to our VISION: To be internationally recognized as a premier academic research center and its

faculty as thought leaders in musculoskeletal injury prevention and human performance optimization

and MISSION: To mitigate musculoskeletal injuries and optimize human performance by conducting

innovative, multi-disciplinary, basic and applied research providing evidence and translating scientific

knowledge; enhancing clinical decisions and education. This research will lead to improved quality of life

and resiliency in athletic, military, and active populations.

2016 continued to be both a productive and transitional year for the NMRL/WHPRC. Having

moved into a brand new laboratory in July 2015, we currently have a state-of-the-science and world-class

Neuromuscular Research laboratory that can a comprehensively assess and measure across a broad

spectrum of neuromuscular, physiological, biomechanical, and biochemical variables. The annual report

for 2016 covered in this document highlights our faculty and graduate students and their scholarly

accomplishments. More information about our laboratory can be located at our website:

http://www.nmrl.pitt.edu/warrior-human-performance-research-center

NMRL Research on Injury Prevention and Performance has a Strong

Presence in the Mid-Atlantic Region From November 4-5, 2016, Harrisonburg, PA hosted the 39th Annual Meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Regional

Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine. Drs. Nagai, Nagle, Connaboy, and Anne Beethe led a

symposium titled Methodological Considerations for Swimming Related Human Performance Research.

They discussed novel pool-based aerobic and anaerobic performance tests as well land-based

characteristics as predictors of swimming performance. NMRL faculty, Drs. Nagai, Nagle, Connaboy,

Darnell as well as Doctoral students Anne Beethe, Shawn

Eagle, Caleb Johnson, Erin Pletcher, Gordon Huang, Paul

Whitehead, BPhil student Joseph Schmitz, and intern

Michael Tammaro all presented research. Shawn Eagle and

Caleb Johnson were nominated for Doctoral Student

Awards and Joseph Schmitz was nominated for an

Undergraduate Student Award.

March 8-12, 2016, Dr. Darnell and Doctoral

students Anne Beethe and Shawn Eagle represented the

NMRL and the Maximizing Human Potential Research

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Showcase as part of Pitt is It held in Washington, DC. This event, held at the Rayburn Building, was hosted

by University of Pittsburgh Community and Governmental Relations, part of a week-long series of Pitt

Alumni Association networking events in DC. The same week, Dr. Katelyn Allison presented on

Musculoskeletal, Biomechanical, and Physiological Gender Differences in the U.S. Military at the 15th

Annual McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Scientific Retreat at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

as part of the Military-Relevant Injury Research session. Dr. Darnell also represented the NMRL at the

26th Annual Showcase for Commerce on June 1, 2016 in Johnstown, PA.

On October 21, 2016, Undergraduate researchers,

Michael Tammaro, Joseph Schmitz, and Meghan

Schmidt, presented research at the Science 2016 – Game

Changes Showcase. Michael and Joseph, mentored by

PhD candidate Paul Whitehead, presented how

minimalist footwear impacts postural stability and

landing mechanics. Meghan presented on the

development of a suspended pulley system to assess

aerobic fitness in water.

NMRL Faculty Travel around the World to Present on Human

Performance Optimization and Injury Prevention Research Dr. Takashi Nagai was invited to travel to Australia as an International Fellow sponsored by the Australian

Defense Force Defense Science and Technology Organization and the University of Wollongong. He

presented on the Human Performance Optimization and Injury Prevention research that the

NMRL/WHPRC has conducted for the last 10 years.

Upon the invitation of Dr. Julie

Greeves, the Research Director

for the British Army Women

Ground Close Combat Review,

Director, Dr. Brad Nindl visited

the United Kingdom from July

2-9, 2016 to make a series of

presentations and participate

in roundtable discussions. Dr.

Nindl also was invited to present a seminar on Navigating the Demands of the Peer-Reviewed Publication

Process: Tricks of the trade for publishing in peer-reviewed journals held on July 6, 2016 at the University

of Chichester, United Kingdom.

Upon the invitation of Dr. Timothy Billiar, the chair of

Department of Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, and Dr.

Weiping Jia, the president of Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Dr. Qi Mi presented Systems

Biology and Data Mining of the Human Microbiome in the Sixth

Symposium of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth

People’s Hospital and University of Pittsburgh School of

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Medicine on Nov 4th, 2016. The main topic of this symposium was Precision Medicine, Where East Meets

West. He participated in roundtable discussions with various departments, including emergency medicine,

endocrinology & metabolism, anesthesia, etc., and provided expert advice on their biomedical data

mining projects. Dr. Mi also visited The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University (CSU) by the

invitation of Dr. Hong Yuan, the vice president of the hospital in Changsha, China. He discussed several

projects that related to the CSU hypertension clinical database.

Making an Impact: Disseminating Research in Military Communities Dr. Kevin Conley was selected as one of 160 civilians

nationwide to attend the US Army War College

National Security Seminar at Carlisle Barracks, PA from

June 6-9, 2016. This 62nd annual event provides a

forum in which distinguished speakers may express

their views on issues of importance to the Nation’s

security and welfare. Students, International Fellows,

faculty, and invited New Members from across the

country contribute to a free and candid dialogue on

these issues, both in plenary session and later in

individual seminar rooms. New Members are a diverse

group of American citizens drawn from across American life and various fields of endeavor. The Seminar

enables these representative citizens to get to know some of the prospective leaders of their Armed

Forces and, in turn, allows students to better understand the diverse society they serve.

Drs. Brad Nindl and Kim Beals presented at the State of

the Science Symposia Series: Fitness and Health

Outcomes: Exercise, Health and Nutrition for Wounded,

Injured, and Ill Veterans, Bethesda, MD, 30 March, 2016

sponsored by the Center for Rehabilitation Science

Research, Department of Physical Medicine and

Rehabilitation at the Uniformed Services for the Health

Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation, Walter Reed

national Military Center, and the Department of

Rehabilitation Science and Technology, Human

Engineering Research Laboratories. Dr. Nindl’s

presentation was State of the Science of Military Human Performance Optimization and Dr. Beals

presented Using Nutrition to Optimize Human Performance.

The NMRL Welcomes Visitors On August 30, 2016, NMRL faculty welcomed visitors from the VA for a Veterans Health and Wellness

Initiative Briefing to showcase our plans to extend our wellness efforts to improve the health of our

veterans and their families.

Dr. Dan Billing, the Science Leader in Physical and Physiological Performance for the Australian

Science and Technology Office in Melbourne, visited the NMRL on November 15, 2016. He was welcomed

by Drs. Nindl and Beals from the NMRL and Dr. Ron Poropatich from Pitt’s Center for Military Medicine

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Research. COL Robert D. Forsten, of the U.S. Army Medical Corps,

visited the NMRL May 19, 2016 to present on traumatic brain injury in

Special Operations Forces operators.

We also hosted Andreas Monnier,

RPT, MSc OMT, a Physiotherapist

with the 1st Marine Regiment of the

Swedish Armed Forces and a PhD

student within the Department of

Neurobiology at the Karolinska

Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Andreas spent over two weeks

engaging with the faculty and graduate students and presented his

research on the injury risk factors affecting the training and selection of

the 1st Marine Regiment.

Two Young Scientists Successfully Defend their Dissertations and

Eagerly Enter the Work Force

On April 7, 2016, Dr. Valerie Williams

defended her dissertation, titled

Comparisons in Physical

Characteristics of Professional Ballet

and Collegiate Dancers. Her

dissertation was approved by her

committee, Drs. Connaboy, Nagai,

Nindl, and Sell, and committee chair

Dr. Mita Lovalekar. Dr. Williams has begun a faculty position at Brunel University of London in the

Physiotherapy Department. On November 11, 2016, Dr. Hung-Chun “Gordon” Huang successfully

defended his dissertation, titled The Predictors of a Proposed Combat Readiness Test. His dissertation was

approved by Drs. Sell, Lovalekar, Nindl, Connaboy, and committee chair, Dr. Nagai. Drs. Nicholas Heebner

and Michelle Varnell also celebrated in the 2016 Commencement ceremony after defending their

dissertations in 2015.

We Welcome New Faculty and Post-doc Shawn Flanagan, PhD and Courtenay Dunn-Lewis, PhD joined

the NMRL as Assistant Professor and Visiting Assistant Professor

in Fall 2016. Prior to joining the NMRL, Dr. Flanagan completed

his PhD at The Ohio State University and Dr. Dunn-Lewis was an

Assistant Professor at Merrimack College. They are developing

initiatives to study: the effects of different forms of exercise on

sleep quality, architecture, and neuroplasticity in early

Parkinson's disease; the comparative efficacy of common

rehabilitation techniques for neuromusculoskeletal injury; cognitive resilience under physical, nutritional,

and sleep-related stress; physiological resilience in tactical and athletic populations; neurobiology of

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exercise training adaptations; neurobiological basis of functional deficits after traumatic injury; use of

exercise to treat and monitor symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury; evaluating risk factors and

biomarkers for adaptation and resilience to spaceflight; exercise as means to enhance responses to non-

invasive brain stimulation in neurological disorders.

Chris Connaboy, PhD, was promoted to tenure track faculty in the Department of

Sports Medicine and Nutrition and is currently working on a NASA funded project:

Characterization of Psychological Risk, Overlap with Physical Health, and Associated

Performance in Isolated, Confined, Extreme (ICE) Environments, investigating the

most effective methods to predict, detect, and assess decrements in behavioral

health and cognitive performance before, during, and after spaceflight missions; and

examining the individual characteristics which predict successful adaptation and

performance in an isolated, confined and extreme environment, especially for long

duration missions. The project seeks to summarize all the available evidence of psychological and

behavioral symptoms experienced in ICE environments and exploration spaceflight based on

comprehensive literature reviews and interviews with subject matter experts. We are also examining the

prevalence, severity, and duration of discrete psychological/ behavioral symptoms experienced among

Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) at Johnson Space Center and within Antarctic winter over

cohorts; including concurrent and sequential overlap with physical health symptoms. Finally, we are also

exploring the relationships among cognitive/perception performance, sleep patterns and biomarkers of

stress with psychological and behavioral symptoms in ICE environments.

Brian Martin, PhD recently joined the NMRL as a post-doc. Prior to joining the NMRL,

he recently defended his dissertation, titled “The Interactive Effects of Green Tea

Extract Supplementation and Exercise on Metabolism and Glycemic Control in

Humans”. His current research initiatives include manuscript preparation from the

analysis of molecular weight variants of IGF-I in men and women following acute

resistance exercise, and analysis of IGF-I bioactivity in men and women with lumbar

spinal stenosis following three separate forms of clinical rehabilitation. Future

research initiatives include establishing basic infrastructure for biochemical analysis,

and to begin using biochemical analysis to assess the effects of physiological stress from nutrition and

exercise training on biomarkers indicative of physiological resilience, injury and adaptation.

NMRL Faculty: Ongoing Research Initiatives Brad Nindl, PhD, FACSM, is Director of the Neuromuscular Research

Laboratory/Warrior Human Performance Research Center and Professor in the

Department of Sports Medicine in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

at the University of Pittsburgh. His research interests span human performance

optimization/injury prevention domains with a focus on adaptations of the

neuromuscular and endocrine systems (growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-I

axis) to both exercise and military operational stress. He is an associate editor for

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise and the Journal of Strength and

Conditioning Research and a Fellow in the American College of Sports Medicine.

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Kim Beals, PhD, RD, CSSD, is Associate Director of the NMRL, and an Assistant

Professor in the Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition. Dr. Beals’ current

initiatives are focused around nutrition and exercise strategies to modify body

composition and to enhance physical performance. Future initiatives are focused

around the microbiome. Foods and nutrients in the diet may affect health by altering

the composition of gut microbiota and perhaps more importantly by serving as

substrates for microbial metabolism. Research is needed to determine which foods

and nutrients specifically promote growth and functionality of beneficial bacteria as

part of a healthy microbiome. This research will help to fill a gap in the scientific literature and increase

our understanding of how the habitual diet affects the gut microbiome.

Kevin Conley, PhD, ATC, is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of

Sports Medicine and Nutrition in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. He

has over 20 years of clinical and academic experience, having spent the previous 17

years as the director of the Athletic Training Education Program. Dr. Conley also

serves as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies at SHRS, where his

responsibilities include providing support and oversight related to common policies

and procedures for the six undergraduate programs in the school.

Katelyn Allison, PhD, ACSM EP-C, is an Assistant Professor within the Department of

Sports Medicine and Nutrition and Director of the MS Program in Sports Medicine.

She serves as the Principal Investigator for the following projects: Expanding the Role

of Women in the Marine Corps: Injury Prevention and Human Performance and Effect

of Crossfit exercise training on health and performance. Dr. Allison is leading future

research initiatives around University of Pittsburgh Veteran’s Health and Wellness

Initiative as well as evaluating and identifying risk factors for lower extremity stress

syndrome and fractures in active adults.

Matt Darnell, PhD, RD, CSSD, SCCC, is an Assistant Professor within the Department

of Sports Medicine and Nutrition. He is currently involved in two research projects

evaluating the effectiveness of a topical foam for improving sodium retention during

exercise and reducing inflammation following an injury. Future research initiatives

will focus on individual variations and contributing factors to nutrient metabolism

and metabolic response in athletic populations.

Karen Keenan, PhD, ATC, is an Assistant Professor within the Department of Sports

Medicine and Nutrition. Dr. Keenan is currently involved with the USASOC injury

prevention/performance optimization musculoskeletal screening initiative, which is

an effort to scientifically evaluate the Tactical Human Optimization, Rapid

Rehabilitation, and Reconditioning (THOR3) human performance training program

to improve injury mitigating and performance characteristics. Her research interests

include neuromuscular control of the trunk as it relates to injury risk and injury

prevention in the extremities as well as performance.

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Mita Lovalekar, MBBS, PhD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor of Sports Medicine and

Nutrition and is an associate-investigator with the Department of Defense and

MNRL research projects, and is involved with study design, data processing, analysis,

and interpretation, with our externally funded and academic research projects. Her

research interests include injury epidemiology and surveillance, injury prevention,

and chronic disease epidemiology.

Qi Mi, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sports Medicine and

Nutrition and a member of the Center for inflammation and Regenerative Modeling

within the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Mi is currently working

on applying data mining and machine learning approaches to uncover patterns and

develop predictive model of musculoskeletal injury and other biological disease.

Takashi Nagai, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sports Medicine

and Nutrition. Dr. Nagai currently manages and leads the effort on the Maritime and

Amphibious Human Performance Research Initiatives. We explore the land-based

and water-based human performance characteristics and see how those variables

are related to Combat Swimming tasks. Dr. Nagai’s research interests include exercise

interventions for injury prevention and performance optimization and neck pain/low

back pain in military. Dr. Nagai also coordinates research opportunities for students

in the Undergraduate Program in Rehabilitation Science.

Elizabeth Nagle, PhD, FACSM, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health

and Physical Activity (HPA) within the School of Education with a secondary

appointment with the School of Health and Rehabilitative Sciences at the University

of Pittsburgh, and is also the undergraduate HPA program coordinator. Dr. Nagle

completed her Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh, and is a certified ACSM Exercise

Physiologist and Level 2 USA Swimming Coach. Her research interests include

Development and Validation of aquatic protocols of Aerobic and Anaerobic Capacity

for shallow water running, swimming, and military performance.

Mary Murray, EdD, ATC, is a faculty member in the Department of Sports Medicine

and Nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh and is the Clinical Coordinator for the

Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainers. She completed her doctoral studies in the

Department of Educational Leadership, Management and Policy at Seton Hall

University. She earned a Master’s degree in Physical Education, Exercise, & Sports

Science at the University of North Carolina and a Bachelor of Science degree with a

concentration in Athletic Training at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research

interests are in clinical education and student success in health science programs.

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Department of Defense Laboratory Faculty Kate Persweig, MS, ATC, CSCS, is a research associate assigned to the NMRL's UPitt

Warrior Human Performance Research Laboratory. Kate completed her B.S. in

Athletic Training at Boston University and her M.S. in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation

Science at the University of Hawaii. Her graduate research focused on identifying

lower extremity overuse injury risk factors among ROTC cadets. Her research interests

include identifying and mitigating risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries among

military personnel.

Andrew Simonson, MS, is a research associate at NMRL's UPitt Warrior Human

Performance Research Laboratory. Andy completed his Bachelor's in Exercise Science

and Master's in Exercise Physiology at the University of Pittsburgh. His research

interests include the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries and utilization of exercise

training for improving physical performance in tactical military operators, and body

composition in relation to optimal functional performance.

Meleesa Wohleber, DHSc, ATC, is a research associate assigned to the NMRL's UPitt

Warrior Human Performance Research Laboratory. She received her Doctor of Health

Science degree from Nova Southeastern University in 2010, Master of Science in

Kinesiology/Athletic Administration at James Madison University in 2002, and

Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 2000.

Prior to joining the NMRL, Meleesa was an athletic trainer at the United States Coast

Guard Training Center in Cape May, NJ. Meleesa's research interests include injury

prevention screening programs for active populations and prevention of musculoskeletal injury in the

military.

NMRL Staff Susan Casino is an Administrator of the NMRL within the University of Pittsburgh's

School of Health and Rehabilitation Science. She has been with the University of

Pittsburgh since 2003 and the NMRL since 2008.

Robert Kornosky, MPA, is the Financial Manager for the Department of Sports

Medicine and Nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh. He completed his Master's

Degree in Public Administration and Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration

from the University of Pittsburgh. Rob has experience in grants management,

accounting, and human resource administration. Prior to joining the Department of

Sports Medicine and Nutrition, Rob worked for the University's School of Medicine as

an Accountant.

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NMRL Doctoral Students Heather Bansbach is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Bioengineering at the

University of Pittsburgh. She received her Bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering from

the University of Virginia, where she worked at the Molecular Biomechanics

Laboratory. Her research interests include understanding the role of biomechanical

and postural stability factors in the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries. She has

been working on the development of accelMOTION, a sensor-based software

platform that enables laboratory based musculoskeletal measures to be taken in a

clinical setting.

Anne Beethe, MA, ATC, CSCS, Prior to starting in the NMRL, Anne worked as an

athletic trainer at Belmont Abbey College. She worked with the school's Division II

Men's Soccer, Women's Basketball, and Baseball team. She earned her

undergraduate degree in Exercise Science at Creighton University. She then went to

earn her Master's degree at the University of Nebraska Omaha in Athletic Training.

Her research interests include upper extremities, specifically the glenohumeral joint

in overhead athletes. Other interests include proprioception, injury prevention, the

biomechanics of the lower extremities as they might affect the upper extremity

through the kinetic chain, and weight programs to decrease the incidence of injury.

Shawn Eagle, MAT, LAT, ATC, CSCS, is a doctoral student at the NMRL. Prior to

returning to school, Shawn worked as a remote laboratory faculty member for the

NMRL at the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado, CA and Camp LeJeune-Stone Bay

in Sneads Ferry, NC. He has previously earned a Masters of Athletic Training degree

from Texas Tech University and a B.A. in Athletic Training from Denison University.

Shawn’s research interests include enhancing human performance and application of

strength training programs to prevent injuries to athletes and military personnel.

Caleb Johnson, MS, is a doctoral student in Rehabilitation Science within the

Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh. He

received a bachelor’s degree in Science in Kinesiology at Penn State University and a

Master of Science degree in Health, Physical Activity, and Chronic Disease at the

University of Pittsburgh. Caleb also worked in research at Pitt’s Health and Physical

Activity Department and held an internship with the NMRL. Caleb is interested in

proprioception and core stability as they pertain to lower-body injury prevention and

more specifically, injury prevention programs for young to adolescent athletes.

Erin Pletcher, MS, ATC, CSCS, is a doctoral student in the Department of Sports

Medicine and Nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to enrolling in the

Doctoral Program Erin was the Assistant Director of Athletics/ Head Athletic Trainer

at Philadelphia University. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Athletic Training

from the University of Pittsburgh and her Master's degree in Sport and Recreation

Administration from James Madison University. Her research interests include lower

extremity risk factor analysis of adolescent females, core stability related to lower

extremity injury, and functional test results as a means for individualized training.

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Paul Whitehead, MS, CSCS, is a doctoral student in the Sports Medicine program

within the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of

Pittsburgh. Prior to enrolling in the doctoral program, he received his master’s degree

in Health and Sport Sciences from the University of Memphis, with a concentration in

Exercise and Sport Science where he served as the Lab Coordinator of the Exercise

Neuromechanics Laboratory, and his thesis work focused on the Physical Readiness

Test of the United States Navy. Paul’s research interests include injury prevention and

performance optimization in athletic and military populations, functional ankle

instability, and neuromuscular control relating to lower extremity injury prevention.

Select Peer-reviewed Publications by NMRL Faculty, Students, and Staff Abboud A, Namas RA, Ramadan M, Mi Q, Almahmoud K, Abdul-Malak O, Azhar N, Namas R, Barclay D,

Yin J, Sperry J, Peitzman A, Zamora R, Simmons RL, Billiar TR, Vodovotz Y. Computational Analysis Supports

an Early, Type 17 Cell-Associated Divergence of Blunt Trauma Survival and Mortality, Critical Care

Medicine, 2016 Nov;44(11):e1074-e1081.

Abboud A, Mi Q, Puccio A, Okonkwo D, Bulig, M, Constantine G, Vodovotz Y, Inflammation Following

Traumatic Brain Injury in Humans: Insights from Data-Driven and Mechanistic Models into Survival and

Death, Frontiers in Pharmacology, section Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, 2016 Sep

27;7:342

Allison KF, Sell TC, Benjaminse A, Lephart SM. Force Sense of the Knee is not Affected by Fatiguing the

Knee Extensors and Flexors. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation. 2016; 25, 155-163.

Allison KF, Abt JP, Beals K, Nagle EF, Lovalekar MT, Lephart SM, Sell TC. Aerobic Capacity and Isometric

Knee Flexion Strength Fatigability are related to Knee Kinesthesia in Physically Active Women. Isokinetics

and Exercise Science. 2016; 24, 357-365.

Anderson MK, Grier T, Canham-Chervak M, Bushman TT, Nindl BC, and Jones NH. Effect of mandatory unit

and individual physical training on fitness in military men and women. American Journal of Health

Promotion, 13 Sep, 2016.

Connaboy C, Coleman S, Naemi R, Psycharakis S, McCabe C, Brown S and Sanders RH. The key kinematic

determinants of undulatory underwater swimming at maximal velocity. Journal of Sports Science, 2016,

34(11), 1034-1043.

Constantine G, Buliga M, Mi Q, Constantine F, Abboud A, Zamora R, Puccio A, Okonkwo D, Vodovotz Y,

Dynamic Profiling: Modeling the Dynamics of Inflammation and Predicting Outcomes in Traumatic Brain

Injury Patients, Frontiers in Pharmacology, section Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Discovery,

section Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, 2016 Nov 1;7:383

Bear R, Sanders M, Pompili J, Stucky L, Walters A, Simmons J, Lacanilao P, Eagle SR, Grier T, DeGroot D,

Lovalekar M, Nindl B, Kane S, Depebrock P. Development of the Tactical Human Optimization, Rapid

Rehabilitation, and Reconditioning Program Military Operator Readiness Assessment for the Special

Forces Operator. Strength and Conditioning Journal. 2016 38(6) :55-60

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Flanagan SD, Looney DP, Miller MJ, DuPont WH, Pryor L, Creighton BC, Sterczala AJ, Szivak TK, Hooper DR,

Maresh CM, Volek JS, Ellis LA, Kraemer WJ. The Effects of Nitrate-Rich Supplementation on Neuromuscular

Efficiency during Heavy Resistance Exercise. J Am Coll Nutr. 2016;35(2):100-7.

Liu X, Ye Y, Mi Q, Huang W, He T, Huang P, Xu N, Wu Q, Wang A, Li Y, Yuan H. A Predictive Model for

Assessing Surgery-Related Acute Kidney Injury Risk in Hypertensive Patients: A Retrospective Cohort

Study, PLoS One, 2016 Nov 1;11(11

Lovalekar MT, Abt JP, Sell TC, Nagai T, Keenan K, Beals K, Lephart SM, Wirt MD. Descriptive Epidemiology

of Musculoskeletal Injuries in the Army 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division. Mil Med. 2016

Aug;181(8):900-6.

Lovalekar M, Abt JP, Sell TC, Wood DE, Lephart SM. Descriptive Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Injuries

in Naval Special Warfare Sea, Air, and Land Operators. Mil Med. 2016 Jan;181(1):64-9.

Nagai T, Clark NC, Abt JP, Sell TC, Heebner NR, Smalley BW, Wirt MD, Lephart SM. The Effect of Target

Position on the Accuracy of Cervical-Spine-Rotation Active Joint-Position Sense. Journal of Sport

Rehabilitation. 2016; 25(1): 58-63

Nagai T, Keenan KA, Abt JP, Sell TC, Smalley BW, Wirt MD, Lephart SM. A Comparison of Cervical and

Trunk Musculoskeletal Characteristics between Female and Male Army Helicopter Pilots. International

Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace. 2016; 3(3): 1-14

Nagai T, Abt JP, Sell TC, Keenan KA, McGrail MA, Smalley BW, Lephart SM. Effects of Deployment on

Musculoskeletal and Physiological Characteristics and Balance. Military Medicine. 2016; 181(9): 1050-7

Nagai T, Bansbach HM, Faherty MS, Abt JP, Sell TC, Lephart SM. Effects of Seated Whole-Body Vibration

Exposure on Cervical and Trunk Proprioception and Static and Dynamic Postural Stability. Journal of

Musculoskeletal Disorders and Treatment. 2016; 2(5): 024

Nagai T, Keenan KA, Abt JP, Sell TC, Smalley BW, Wirt MD, Lephart SM. Effects of Flight-Exposure and Age

on Cervical and Trunk Musculoskeletal Characteristics in Army Helicopter Pilots. International Journal of

Aeronautical Science & Aerospace Research. 2016; 3(5): 123-130

Nagai T, Allison KF, Schmitz JL, Sell TC, Lephart SM. Conscious Proprioception Assessments in Sports

Medicine: How Individuals Perform Each Submodality? In: Sports Medicine (eBook). Dover, DE: SM Online

Scientific Resources. 2016; 1-13

Namas RA, Almahmoud K, Mi Q, Ghuma A, Namas R, Zaaqoq A, Sperry J, Zamora R, Billiar TR, Vodovotz Y.

Individual-specific principal component analysis of circulating inflammatory mediators predicts early

organ dysfunction in trauma patients. Journal of Critical Care, 2016 Dec;36146-153.

Nindl BC, Jones BH, Arsdale SV, Kelly K and Kraemer WJ, Operational physical performance and fitness in

military women: physiological, musculoskeletal injury, and optimized physical training considerations for

successfully integrating women into combat-centric military occupations. Military Medicine, 181(1): 50-

62, 2016.

Varnell M, Keenan K, McFate D, Csonka J, Salesi K,& Sell T. Musculoskeletal characteristics of the dominant

shoulder complex between intercollegiate baseball and softball pitchers and position players. Athletic

Training and Sports Health Care. 2016; 8(2): 70-81.

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Zamora, R., Vodovotz, Y., Mi, Q., Barclay, D., Yin, J., Horslen, S., Rudnick, D., Loomes, K., Squires, R., Data-

Driven Modeling for Precision Medicine in Pediatric Acute Liver Failure, Molecular Medicine, 2016 Nov

23;22

Select Conference Presentations by NMRL Faculty, Students, and Staff Abt J, Heebner N, Keenan KA, Lambert B, Nagai T, Royer S, Williams N, Winters JD, Lephart S. Comparison

of physical and physiological characteristics based on injury history. 2016 American College of Sports

Medicine Annual Meeting; Boston, MA: May 31 – June 4, 2016.

Alfano, CA, Simpson, RJ, Connaboy, C, Laughlin, M, Zvolensky, M and Deng, Z. Characterization of

Psychological Risk, Overlap with Physical Health, and Associated Performance in Isolated, Confined,

Extreme (ICE) Environments. NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop, February 7th-

11th, Galveston, TX, USA, 2016

Allison KF, Keenan KA, Frame MM, Lovalekar MT, Beals K, Weinberg AM, Coleman LC, Nindl BC. Body

Composition and Anthropometric Variables are Associated with Better Physiological and Musculoskeletal

Performance in Female Marines. Military Health System Research Symposium, Kissimmee, FL, August 15,

2016.

Bansbach HM, Pletcher EP, Lovalekar MT, Frame M, Kido Y, Sell TC, Allison KF. Correlations and gender-

related differences in dynamic postural stability and landing kinematics in U.S. Marines. American Society

of Biomechanics 40th Annual Meeting, August 2016 (Raleigh, NC).

Beals K. Decreased Energy Availability during Cold Weather Mountain Training in Special Operators.

American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. May 31-June 2, 2016.

Beethe, A.Z., Nagle, E.F., Connaboy, C., Abt, J.A., Lephart, S.M., Lovalekar, M. T., Nagai, T. Differences in

male and female scapular strength and the relationship to sprint swimming performance. American

College of Sports Medicine Regional Meeting; Nov 3-5th, 2016; Harrisburg, PA.

Connaboy, C, Riddle, C, Graham, SM and Simpson, RJ. The effects of additional carried load on perception-

action coupling during a discrete horizontal jump task. ACSM's 63rd Annual Meeting, May 31st -June 4th,

Boston, MA, 2016

Darnell ME, Emerging Concepts in Sports Science and Nutrition. Mid Atlantic Regional Conferences of the

American College of Sports Medicine, Harrisburg, PA November 4, 2016

DuPont WH, Kraemer WJ, Nindl BC, Vingren JL, Spiering BA, Flanagan SD, Caldwell LK, Szivak TK, Barnhart

EC, Borden EC, Maresh CM. The Influence of Different Training Programs on the Expression of Plasma

Proenkephalin Peptide F in Women. American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting; Boston, MA –

May 2016.

Eagle, SR, Keenan, K, Connaboy, C, Wohleber, M, Simonson, A, Nindl, BC. Side-to-Side Knee Strength

Imbalances and Increased Odds of Reporting Injury in Military Special Forces Operators. MARC ACSM,

Harrisburg, PA, 11/4/2016

Eagle SR. Task Description and Physiological Demand of Marine Special Operations Students during

Amphibious Training. ACSM, Boston, MA, 6/2/2016

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Eagle SR, Keenan KA, Lovalekar M, Nagai T, Morgan PM, Beals K. Special Warfare Combatant Crewmen

demonstrate diminished cervical strength and range of motion compared to Crewmen Qualification

Students. 2016 Military Health System Research Symposium; Kissimmee, FL: August 15 – 18, 2016.

Eagle SR, Connaboy C, Beals K, Mi Q, Keenan KA, Lovalekar MT, Nindl BC. Previously Concussed Soldiers

Exhibit Delayed Time to Peak Torque and Advanced Angle at Peak Torque Compared to Soldiers Without

Concussion History in an Isokinetic Knee Extension/Flexion Task. Rehabilitation Institute Research Day,

Pittsburgh, PA, 5/18/16

Flanagan SD, Szivak TK, DuPont WH, Caldwell LK, Barnhart EC, Borden EC, Saenz C, Staron RS, Hymer WC,

Nindl BC, Kraemer WJ. Comparing Bioactive And Immunoassay-Based Measurements Of The Growth

Hormone Response To Short-Term Resistance Training At Three Intensity Levels. American College of

Sports Medicine Annual Meeting; Boston, MA – May 2016.

Hooper DR, Schill KE, Saenz C, Martini ER, Flanagan SD, Szivak TK, DuPont WH, Focht BC, Volek JS, Maresh

CM, Kraemer WJ. Pathogenesis And Symptomology Of The Exercise-Hypogonadal Male Condition.

American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting; Boston, MA – May 2016.

Huang HC, Nagai T, Sell TC, Lovalekar M, Nindl BC, Stone DA. Physical fitness predictors of a proposed

combat readiness test. Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine Annual

Meeting. Harrisburg, PA. November 4-5, 2016

Johnson CD, Whitehead PN, Pletcher ER, Faherty, MS, Lovalekar MT, Eagle SR, Keenan, KA. Core Strength

as a Predictor of Performance During Three Functional Movement Screens: A Preliminary Analysis. ACSM,

Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter Meeting, Harrisburg, PA, November 4-5, 2016.

Johnson, CD, Faherty, MS, Varnell, MS, Lovalekar, MT, Williams, VJ, Csonka, J, Salesi, K, Sell TC. An Analysis

of Musculoskeletal Variables, Comparative to Team Norms, Leading to an ACL Rupture. UPMC

Rehabilitation Institute Research Day, Pittsburgh, PA, May 18, 2016.

Johnson CD, Williams VJ, Heebner NR, Rafferty D, Wohleber M, Simonson A, Reinert A, Sell TC. The

relationship between performance on the Sensory Organization Test and landing biomechanics during a

single- and double-leg stop-jump. American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting,

Anaheim, CA, February 17-20, 2016.

Keenan KA, Allison KF, Frame M, Lovalekar MT, Beals K, Weinberg AM, Coleman LC, Nindl BC. Better

fitness is related to lower injury risk in male and female Marines during integrated training. 2016 Military

Health System Research Symposium; Kissimmee, FL: August 15 – 18, 2016.

Liu D, Namas RA, Mi Q, Abdul-Malak O, Zuckerbraun B, Sperry J, Vodovotz Y, Billiar T,Quantification of

Cumulative Multiple Organ Dysfunction Scores Identifies Phenotypic Clusters and Biomarker Patterns In

Blunt Trauma Patients, Thirty-Ninth Annual Conference on Shock, Austin, Texas, June 11-14, 2016

Lovalekar M, Sell T, Wohleber M, Rafferty D, Simonson A. Descriptive epidemiology of musculoskeletal

injuries among Air Force Special Operations Command Operators and the impact of these injuries on

healthcare utilization. 2016 Epidemiology Congress of the Americas; Miami, Florida, June 21 - 24, 2016.

15

Lovalekar M, Nagai T, Chang Y, Beals K, Wirt M, Lephart S. Using the capture-recapture method to

estimate the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries among Soldiers. American Public Health Association

2016 Annual Meeting & Expo., Denver, CO, Oct. 29 - Nov. 2, 2016.

Mi Q, Namas RA, Liu D, Sperry J, Vodovotz Y, Billiar T, Optimal Stratification for Patients with Traumatic

Injury, McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine Retreat, Farmington, PA, Mar 2016

Nagai T, Eagle S, Abt JP, Heebner NR, Williams N, Lambert B, Winters JD, Royer SD, Lephart SM. Heart

Rate and Variability of Marine Special Operations Students during Close Quarter Battle Training. American

College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting; May 31 – June 4, 2016; Boston, MA

Nagai T, Bansbach H, Faherty M, Abt JP, Sell TC, Lephart SM. Effects of Whole-Body Vibration on Neck

and Trunk Proprioception and Postural Stability. Aerospace Medical Association Annual Meeting; April 24-

28, 2016; Atlantic City, NJ

Nagle, JA, Nagle, EF, Abt, J, Beals, K, Connaboy, C, Dever, D and Olenick, A. Tethered swimming test:

Reliability and associations between swimming performance and land-based anaerobic performance.

ACSM's 63rd Annual Meeting, May 31st -June 4th, Boston, MA, 2016

Namas RA, Liu D, Mi Q, Abdul-Malak O, Guardado, J, Zuckerbraun B, Sperry J, Rosengart M, Vodovotz Y,

Billiar T Endotype-Specific Multiple Organ Dysfunction Parameter Segregates Trauma Patients into

Outcome-based Cohorts Characterized by an early, differential inflammation biomarker profile, 75th

Annual Meeting of AAST and Clinical Congress of Acute Care Surgery, Waikoloa, HI,Sep 14-17,2016

Paul, C, Kaliarntas, K, Connaboy, C and Graham, SM. The effects of carrying a simulated rifle during a

backpack load-carriage task. ACSM's 63rd Annual Meeting, May 31st -June 4th, Boston, MA, 2016

Perlsweig KA, Keenan KA, Parr J, Lovalekar MT, Beals K. Musculoskeletal injury epidemiology of the Naval

Special Warfare Operator and student. 2016 Military Health System Research Symposium; Kissimmee, FL:

August 15 – 18, 2016.

Pletcher ER, Lovalekar M, Frame M, Kido Y, Beals K, Nindl B, Allison K. Decreased body fat but not body

mass is associated with better performance on Combat Fitness Test in male and female Marines. National

Strength and Conditioning Association National Conference. July 7, 2016. New Orleans, LA.

Pletcher ER, Bansbach HM, Nagai T, Abt JP. The Effect of Load Carriage and Lower Extremity Strength on

Plantar Pressures Obtained in the Barefoot Condition. 67th Clinical Symposia of the National Athletic

Trainers’ Association; June 23, 2016; Baltimore, MD.

Schmidt, M., Beethe, A.Z., Nagai, T., Nagle, E.F. Development of a suspended pulley system to assess

aerobic fitness in water. University of Pittsburgh Science 2016 Game Changers; October 20th, 2016.

Zhang J, Darnell M, Nindl BC, Mi Q. Development of a Computational Tool for Optimal Resting Metabolic

Rate Calculation, ACSM Mid-Atlantic Chapter Fall Meeting, Harrisburg, PA, Nov 4-5, 2016

Zhang J, Darnell M, Nindl BC, Mi Q. Development of a Computational Tool for Optimal Resting Metabolic

Rate Calculation, University of Pittsburgh Science 2016, Pittsburgh, PA, Oct 19-21, 2016

16

Invited Speaking Engagements Katelyn Allison, PhD

Title: Musculoskeletal, Biomechanical, and Physiological Gender Differences in the U.S. Military: Considerations for Injury and Performance Event: McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine Scientific Retreat Description: Military-Relevant Injury Research Symposium Heather Bansbach

Title: Taking it to Market. Invited Panel Discussion Event: 2nd Integrative Conference on Technology, Social Media and Behavioral Health, Pittsburgh, PA Kim Beals, PhD

Title: Using Nutrition to Optimize Human Performance Event: State of the Science Symposia Series Description: Fitness and Health Outcomes: Exercise, Health and Nutrition for Wounded, Injured, and III Veterans Anne Beethe, MS, ATC

Title: Land-Based Musculoskeletal and Physiological Characteristics as Predictors of Swimming

Performance

Event: Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine, 39th Annual Scientific

Meeting, Harrisburg, PA

Description: Presented the NMRL's ongoing Maritime and Amphibious Human Performance Research

Chris Connaboy, PhD

Title: An assessment of the hydrodynamic characteristics of the flow in SwimEx swim flume: Implications for swimming performance and analysis Event: Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine, 39th Annual Scientific Meeting, Harrisburg, PA Description: Presented the NMRL's ongoing Maritime and Amphibious Human Performance Research. Matt Darnell, PhD

Title: Female Athlete Triad: Energy Availability Event: UPMC Sports Medicine Grand Rounds Title: Feeding a Lifetime – Nutrition for Health, Performance, and Longevity Event: Friendship Village of the South Hills Wellness Week Shawn Flannagan, PhD

Event: Fall 2016 UPMC Rooney Sports Medicine Concussion Program Grand Rounds

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Takashi Nagai, PhD

Title: Roundtable: Chronic Effects of HSM and the Role of Pain

Event: Head Supported Mass Expert Panel Working Group, Fort Detrick, MD.

Description: Presented neck and low back issues in military.

Title: The Eagle Tactical Athlete Program (ETAP)

Event: Australian Defence Science and Technology Group Physical Performance Research Exchange Day,

Fishermans Bend, VIC, Australia.

Description: Presented an overview of the Eagle Tactical Athlete Program.

Title: Public Health Approach to Prevention Musculoskeletal Injury in Military: Lessons Learn from the

Eagle Tactical Athlete Program

Event: The Army Medicine 2020 Research to Practice Education Series, Army Public Health Center,

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD (Presentation Delivered via Webinar).

Description: Presented public health approach to prevent musculoskeletal injury in military.

Title: University of Pittsburgh Special Operation Forces / Department of Defense Human Performance

Research

Event: Grand Rounds: Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences Division, The National

Aeronautics and Space Administration at Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

Description: Presented the past and present military research by the NMRL/WHPRC.

Title: Maritime and Amphibious Human Performance Research in Military

Event: Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine, 39th Annual Scientific

Meeting, Harrisburg, PA

Description: Presented the NMRL's ongoing Maritime and Amphibious Human Performance Research.

Brad Nindl, PhD

Title: A Critical Evaluation of Military-Centric Physical Performance Optimization Programs Event: Annual Tactical Strength and Conditioning Conference Title: Science and Strategies for Human Performance Optimization in Military Tactical Athletes Event: Department of Health and Exercise Science, The College of New Jersey Title: State of the Science of Military Human Performance Optimization, Event: The University of Pittsburgh State of the Science Symposia Series: Fitness and Health Outcomes: Exercise, Health and Nutrition for Wounded, Injured, and Ill Veterans Description: Fitness and Health Outcomes: Exercise, Health and Nutrition for Wounded, Injured, and III Veterans Qi Mi, PhD

Title: Systems Biology and Data Mining of the Human Microbiome Event: Sixth Symposium of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

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Description: Invited presentation at the Center for Rehabilitation Science Research, Department of

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Uniformed Services for the Health Sciences, Department of

Rehabilitation, Walter Reed national military Center, and the Department of Rehabilitation Science and

technology, Human Engineering Research Laboratories

Title: Python for Big Data Analytics

Event: BDMC Speaker Series, Clinical Research Investigation and Systems Modeling of Acute Illness

Center, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Title: Python Workshop for Beginners Event: Institute for Clinical Research Education, University of Pittsburgh

Awards and Recognition Heather Bansbach, accelMOTION, Spring and Fall Chancellor’s Weekend Student Showcase; Department

of Bioengineering Student Awards Seminar; 3 Rivers Venture Fair, University Technology Showcase

Shawn Eagle, MS, ATC 2016 Mid-Atlantic Regional ACSm Doctoral Student Investigator Award

Caleb Johnson, MS Doctoral Student Investigator Award- Finalist ACSM Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter

Meeting

Takashi Nagai, PhD Australian Department of Defense International Fellowship

Brad Nindl, PhD Board selected for Brigade Command in the USAR; Southeast Medical Area Readiness

Support Group

Additional Information

For additional information about the NMRL, please contact:

Bradley C. Nindl, PhD, FACSM Director Neuromuscular Research Laboratory bnindl@pitt.edu 412-246-0460