APS Publications Podcast

In this episode of the APS Publications Podcast, Dr. Ralph Rühl discusses his team’s new article in Physiological Genomics, “Transcriptome-driven Health-status Transversal-predictor Analysis for health, food, microbiome and disease markers for understanding of lifestyle diseases.” The article outlines the development of a novel artificial intelligence approach based on machine-learning to predict general health and food-intake parameters. This novel technique, which is based on PBMC transcriptomics from human blood, can predict a wide range of health-related markers.

Todt T, van Bussel I, Afman L, Brennan L, Ivanova DG, Kiselova-Kaneva Y, Thomas EL, Rühl R. Transcriptome-driven Health-status Transversal-predictor Analysis for health, food, microbiome and disease markers for understanding of lifestyle diseases. Physiol Genomics. 2025 Nov 19. doi: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00026.2025. PMID: 41259124.

In this episode of The APS Publications Podcast, featuring Advances in Physiology Education, David Van Reyk discusses their study on "The use of AI large language models by university students for assignment preparation." Over 50% used AI for idea generation and drafting. PRC students showed improvements in their grades with the use of AI, while Australian students’ grades remained unchanged. Students support institutional guidance and access for responsible AI use.

The use of AI large language models by university students for assignment preparation

Hui Chen, David Van Reyk, and Brian G. Oliver

Advances in Physiology Education 2025 49:2, 517-525

In this episode of the APS Publications Podcast, featuring Advances in Physiology Education, coauthors Christine Bell and Oana Birceanu discuss their recently published article, “Educators’ experience and guide to scaffolding generative AI applications throughout a physiology and pharmacology undergraduate laboratory course.” The paper presents a two-pronged approach to reduce GenAI confusion and build AI literacy, research, and critical thinking skills.

Educators’ experience and guide to scaffolding generative AI applications throughout a physiology and pharmacology undergraduate laboratory course

Christine E. Bell and Oana Birceanu

Advances in Physiology Education 2025 49:3, 721-728 

In the latest APS Publications Podcast, featuring Advances in Physiology Education, John Zubek discusses, “From virtual to reality: evaluating student attitudes through VR dissection preparations: a use case.”

VR vs. live dissections: how do students learn best? We explored their experiences to see how tech can complement STEM & healthcare training.

From virtual to reality: evaluating student attitudes through VR dissection preparations: a use case

Sarah Shine, Julia Warznie, Guoli Zhou, and John Zubek

Advances in Physiology Education 2025 49:3, 611-620 

In this episode of the APS Publications Podcast, featuring Advances in Physiology Education, coauthors Serena Kuang and Nora Laban discuss their recently published Illuminations paper “From compliance to moduli: clarifying basic mechanical properties of biological tissues.”

This article advances physiology education by clarifying the basic mechanical property-related terms in physiology, introducing two fundamental terms in material science that are often missing in physiology education, and revealing the interrelationships among these terms. It serves as a handy tool kit for physiology educators, researchers, as well as clinicians to select and apply these terms appropriately based on their needs.

From compliance to moduli: clarifying basic mechanical properties of biological tissues

Nora Laban, Radwa Dawood, and Serena Y. Kuang

Advances in Physiology Education 2025 49:3, 651-658

In this podcast, coauthors Mary Pelkowski and Gabi Waite discuss their recently published Illuminations article, “Implementing core concept teaching in an integrated, clinical presentation model medical school curriculum”.  They outline a practical approach to incorporating physiology core-concept teaching into an integrated, team-taught medical curriculum—combining a clinical presentation model with flipped classroom learning.

Implementing core concept teaching in an integrated, clinical presentation model medical school curriculum

Mary M. Pelkowski, Xiaojun Qi-Lytle, and Gabi N. Waite

Advances in Physiology Education 2025 49:3, 659-666 

In this podcast, coauthors Maria Magdalena Quetglas-Llabrés and Manuel Jiménez-García discuss their recently published article, ‘Effects of Combining Exercise and Dietary Shifts on Motor Coordination and Oxidative Markers in a High-Fat Diet Model in Rats.' The article investigated the effect of exercise, alone or with dietary modifications, on high fat diet–induced outcomes in rats of both sexes. Authors overview the methodological approach and discuss key takeaways and next steps.  

Effects of Combining Exercise and Dietary Shifts on Motor Coordination and Oxidative Markers in a High-Fat Diet Model in Rats

Manuel Jiménez-García, Maria Magdalena Quetglas-Llabrés, Maria Del Mar Ribas-Taberner, Antoni Sureda-Gomila, David Moranta-Mesquida, Silvia Tejada-Gavela

Comprehensive Physiology 2025;15(6):e70074 

https://doi.org/10.1002/cph4.70074 

In this episode of the APS Publications Podcast, featuring Advances in Physiology Education, coauthors Anna Smith, Fran der Weduwen, and Thomas Powell discuss their recently published Illuminations paper “The practical skills passport: a co-curricular program to enhance lab skills confidence in undergraduate neuroscience and biology students”. The COVID-19 pandemic limited in-person lab opportunities, impacting students’ skills and confidence. This episode explores the development, implementation, and evaluation of a co-curricular lab skills program designed to help students regain confidence during their return to in-person learning. Findings show that participation in the program had a positive impact on student lab confidence.

The practical skills passport: a co-curricular program to enhance lab skills confidence in undergraduate neuroscience and biology students

Anna E. Smith, Fran der Weduwen, Thomas Powell, and Gayle Doherty

Advances in Physiology Education 2025 49:3, 696-703

In this episode of The APS Publications Podcast, featuring Advances in Physiology Education, Prof. S. Mehran Hosseini discusses the study, “Misconception about the application of Dalton’s Law in respiratory physiology.”

Dalton’s Law may provide a good example for students to highlight the existence of misconceptions and their effect on gaining new knowledge. The awareness of students about this misconception may improve their learning styles.

Misconception about the application of Dalton’s Law in respiratory physiology

S. Mehran Hosseini

Advances in Physiology Education 2025 49:3, 646-650

In this special episode of the APS Publications Podcast, the founding of Physiological Genomics is discussed in a series of interviews with Drs. Allen W. Cowley, Jr., Bina Joe, and Hilary Coller. These interviews were organized and conducted in September 2025 by Oluwatosin Mautin Akinola (PhD candidate in Molecular Medicine at the University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States; https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Oluwatosin-Akinola-2). Full videos of these interviews are available as Supplemental Material in the article.

Joe B, Cowley AW, Garrett MR, Kriegel AJ, Prokop JW, Lee EC, Akinola OM, Coller HA. Connecting Genes to Physiology: The First 25 Years of Physiological Genomics. Physiol Genomics. 2025 Oct 29. doi: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00207.2025. PMID: 41159925.