Astrocyte Spatial Distribution Affects Growth Dynamics Of Breast Cancer Brain Metastases: An Agent-Based Modeling Study, 2024 Virginia Commonwealth University
Astrocyte Spatial Distribution Affects Growth Dynamics Of Breast Cancer Brain Metastases: An Agent-Based Modeling Study, Rupleen Kaur
Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference
No abstract provided.
Modeling Human Temporal Eeg Responses To Vr Visual Stimuli, 2024 Virginia Commonwealth University
Modeling Human Temporal Eeg Responses To Vr Visual Stimuli, Richard R. Foster, Connor Delaney, Dean J. Krusienski, Cheng Ly
Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference
No abstract provided.
Spike Timing-Dependent Plasticity And Synaptic Scaling Invoke Episodic Bursting In An Excitatory Recurrent Neuronal Population, 2024 Virginia Commonwealth University
Spike Timing-Dependent Plasticity And Synaptic Scaling Invoke Episodic Bursting In An Excitatory Recurrent Neuronal Population, Ryno Chen, Gregory D. Conradi Smith
Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference
No abstract provided.
Screen For Beneficial Genetic And Chemical Modifiers In Drosophila Models Of Als And Traumatic Brain Injury, 2024 Southern Methodist University
Screen For Beneficial Genetic And Chemical Modifiers In Drosophila Models Of Als And Traumatic Brain Injury, Will Bonderer
Biological Sciences Theses and Dissertations
The underlying molecular processes of aberrant protein expression in neurodegeneration are intricate and multifaceted, with ribosome-associated quality control (RQC) emerging as a promising avenue of exploration. Ribosome-associated quality control is integral to cellular function. Its evolutionarily conserved pathway encompasses a network of mechanisms designed to ensure the fidelity of protein synthesis, folding, and degradation within the cells of all eukaryotes. The ribosome, central to protein synthesis, plays a pivotal role in this quality control network, and its malfunction can lead to the accumulation of misfolded or aberrant proteins. In the context of neurodegenerative disorders, this dysfunction can have dire consequences. …
Neuroscience Educational Interventions For Mental Health Management Within The Neurodiverse Population: A Working Model, 2024 Portland State University
Neuroscience Educational Interventions For Mental Health Management Within The Neurodiverse Population: A Working Model, Kadi Rae Smith, C.K. Miller, Bill Griesar, Jeff Leake
Student Research Symposium
Sociological and environmental factors such as economic disparity and cultural marginalization hinder access to educational and medical resources and must be taken into account to ensure accurate diagnoses, effective self-regulation and mental health management for neurodiverse individuals, and offset disparities in access to healthcare and education. Arbitrary attachment of stigma to traits commonly associated with neurodivergence perpetuate neuro-myths1 that have dire consequences when internalized, informing individuals’ development and sense of self. Neuroscience outreach done by NW Noggin is an active model for engaging communities with limited resources and a greater need for services to offset economic disparity. Integrated arts programming …
Evaluation Of Sleep Outcomes After Traumatic Brain Injury In Children Using Questionnaires And Actigraphy, 2024 Portland State University
Evaluation Of Sleep Outcomes After Traumatic Brain Injury In Children Using Questionnaires And Actigraphy, Connie Tran, Sydney Weese, Cydni Williams Md
Student Research Symposium
Traumatic brain injuries are the result of a sudden external blunt force to the brain and can result in long-term complications or death. In pediatrics, it is the leading cause of acute and chronic sleep wake disturbances, as well as cognitive deficits, which can lead to a reduction in the quality of life. These impairments can later result in lowered performance in work and school settings or decreased psychosocial function. Although there is sufficient evidence that traumatic brain injuries contribute to is that it is unknown whether or not sleep wake disturbances contribute to an increase in the mentioned cognitive …
Understanding The Importance Of Social Emotional Learning In Children And The Link Between Mental Health, 2024 Portland State University
Understanding The Importance Of Social Emotional Learning In Children And The Link Between Mental Health, Lynette Marie Lubiak
Student Research Symposium
I will examine how very important it is to society to teach structured Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs to children in school. It can bring mental wellbeing and the ability to have healthy relationships, non addictive behaviors and being able to emotionally regulate themselves. Since we have pushed on only academia and not SEL for our children, mental illness has skyrocketed. This problem started after the SEL part of school was taken out of schools and then the division between rich and poor became wider and wider as time went on. If we were to bring back SEL into school, …
Investigating The Antibacterial And Immunomodulatory Effects Of Resolvin D2 On Monocytes And Macrophages, 2024 Rowan University
Investigating The Antibacterial And Immunomodulatory Effects Of Resolvin D2 On Monocytes And Macrophages, Cristina Maria Padovani
Theses and Dissertations
In the late phase of sepsis, immunosuppression occurs, where the host is unable to clear the pre-existing infection and is susceptible to secondary infections. It is believed that the ideal treatments for sepsis should attenuate immunosuppression so that the host can get back to homeostasis. Specialized Pro-resolving Mediators (SPMs) are endogenously- produced fatty acids that resolve infectious inflammation without being immunosuppressive. We hypothesize that an SPM – Resolvin D2 (RvD2) – can augment exhausted macrophage function during the immunosuppressive phase of sepsis. We developed a two-hit model to establish macrophage exhaustion in vitro, and found that RvD2 increased NF-κB activity, …
Individual Differences In Age And Testosterone Are Uniquely Associated With Neural Oscillatory Activity Serving Verbal Working Memory In Children And Adolescents, 2024 University of Nebraska Medical Center
Individual Differences In Age And Testosterone Are Uniquely Associated With Neural Oscillatory Activity Serving Verbal Working Memory In Children And Adolescents, Abraham D. Killanin
Theses & Dissertations
During the sensitive period of adolescence, the human brain undergoes dynamic changes in structure and function resulting in vast executive function gains. Verbal working memory (VWM) is one executive function that serves as a foundation to language acquisition, reading, and learning. Many have examined the development of VWM in youth, but few have probed age-related changes in the underlying neural oscillatory dynamics, and none have examined testosterone-related changes. We recorded magnetoencephalography during a modified Sternberg VWM task in 82 youth participants aged 6 – 14 years old and collected salivary testosterone samples. Significant oscillatory responses were identified and imaged using …
How Does Schizophrenia Affect The Expression Of Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors In The Brain?, 2024 Rowan University
How Does Schizophrenia Affect The Expression Of Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors In The Brain?, Shruti Varshney, Nimish Acharya
Rowan-Virtua Research Day
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a psychiatric disorder with a pathophysiology that has not yet been fully understood. This mental illness is characterized by disruptions in cognition, social activity, affect, and perception, and affects approximately 0.085% of individuals worldwide. The Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor (α7nAChR) has been connected to auditory function gating deficits. The purpose of this review is to understand the current literature in how the levels of α7nAChR expression and function are affected by SZ, information that could be used to develop therapies to modulate auditory hallucinations in patients with SZ. A literature search was conducted for peer-reviewed journal …
The Neuroprotective Role Of Lipoxin A4 In Reinstating Blood Brain Barrier Integrity In Neuroinflammatory Disease Processes, 2024 Rowan University
The Neuroprotective Role Of Lipoxin A4 In Reinstating Blood Brain Barrier Integrity In Neuroinflammatory Disease Processes, Minjal Patel, Nimish Acharya
Rowan-Virtua Research Day
Background: The blood-brain barrier (BBB), formed by the vascular endothelium, astrocytic foot processes, pericytes, is a highly selective barrier that is responsible for maintaining brain homeostasis and ultimately proper neuronal function. Disruption of the BBB, leading to increased BBB permeability, has been reported in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI).1 Loss of BBB integrity leads to the proliferation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNFɑ, IL-1β, and IL-6.2 Moderate inflammation has a beneficial response in the system following an acute injury. However, prolonged inflammation has been known to perturb homeostasis and have …
Interactions Between Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury And Methylphenidate Administration On Catecholamine Transporter Protein Levels Within The Rodent Prefrontal Cortex, 2024 Rowan University
Interactions Between Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury And Methylphenidate Administration On Catecholamine Transporter Protein Levels Within The Rodent Prefrontal Cortex, Anna Abrimian, Eleni Papadopoulos, Christopher P. Knapp, J. Loweth, Barry Waterhouse, Rachel Navarra
Rowan-Virtua Research Day
It is theorized that low concentrations of dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) within in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) following traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to increased risky behavior. Our lab has shown that repeated mild TBI (rmTBI) sex-differentially increases risky behavior in a rodent model. Methylphenidate (MPH) is a psychostimulant drug used to treat symptoms of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), also driven by a hypo-catecholaminergic PFC. MPH elevates catecholamine levels by blocking DA and NE transporters, DAT and NET. While the potential of psychostimulants to treat post-TBI symptoms have been explored, the effects of sub-chronic MPH on transporter levels following …
Comparative Analyses Of Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Serotypes 1, 2 And 9 In The Sod Mouse Model Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, 2024 Rowan University
Comparative Analyses Of Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Serotypes 1, 2 And 9 In The Sod Mouse Model Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Talia Hartman, Jeremy Francis, Paola Leone
Rowan-Virtua Research Day
6–7-week-old G93A SOD mice were given 1x1010 vector genomes of three different self-complimentary (sc) AAV capsid serotypes (AAV1, 2, and 9) all containing an identical CBh-driven GFP reporter expression cassette. Each serotype was delivered via either the intrathecal (IT) or intra cisterna magna (ICM) route of administration (ROA). Transduction by each serotype, via each of the two ROA was compared for the cortex and each of the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical regions of the spinal cord, with percent neuronal tropism calculated in each region. AAV2 was effective at transducing spinal cord neurons but disappointingly ineffective at transducing cortical neurons by …
Intra-Accumbens Microinfusion Of The Dopamine D3 Receptor Partial Agonist (±)Vk4-40 Does Not Affect Basal Locomotion In Mice, 2024 Rowan University
Intra-Accumbens Microinfusion Of The Dopamine D3 Receptor Partial Agonist (±)Vk4-40 Does Not Affect Basal Locomotion In Mice, Yeonwoo Sim, Nicole M. Hinds, Amy Hauck Newman, Daniel F. Manvich
Rowan-Virtua Research Day
The opioid epidemic remains a pressing public health crisis, prompting the search for alternative pharmacotherapies for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). This study explores the potential of the dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) partial agonist, (±)VK4-40, as a novel treatment option. We investigated the impact of intra-nucleus accumbens (NAc) microinfusion of VK4-40 on basal locomotion in mice. Results indicate that VK4-40 did not significantly alter basal locomotion, suggesting that its therapeutic effects may not be mediated through disruptions in generalized motor function. Future research will focus on elucidating the neuropharmacological mechanisms underlying VK4-40's therapeutic actions and exploring its effects on psychostimulant-induced hyperlocomotion. …
Pediatric Neurotropic Infection Alters Synaptic Development In The Developing Brain, 2024 Rowan University
Pediatric Neurotropic Infection Alters Synaptic Development In The Developing Brain, Anuoluwapo Grace Fadare, Yashika S. Kamte, Manish N. Chandwani, Lauren A. O'Donnell
Rowan-Virtua Research Day
Many neurotropic viruses cause more significant pathology in younger hosts as their brains are still developing. This experiment asked how central nervous system (CNS) viral-infections affect the development of synapses in the pediatric brain during infection and post-infection. Synaptogenesis is at its peak in pediatric mice (10 days old) and we hypothesized that a neurotropic infection could disrupt synaptic proteins. We used a transgenic mouse model where measles virus (MV) infects only mature neurons, leading us to question whether synapses were impacted. We examined synaptic markers in the cerebellum and hippocampus in MV-infected and uninfected mice 9 days and 90 …
The Impact Of Traumatic Brain Injury On Noradrenergic Innervation Of The Prefrontal Cortex, 2024 Rowan University
The Impact Of Traumatic Brain Injury On Noradrenergic Innervation Of The Prefrontal Cortex, Jil P. Modi, Christopher P. Knapp, Rachel L. Navarra
Rowan-Virtua Research Day
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a common cause of death and disability in the United States, and it can occur due to varied reasons including motor vehicle accidents, gunshot wounds, and falls. Following TBIs, patients are often left with lifelong disabilities and cognitive problems that can lead to increased risk-taking behaviors. The main goal of my research was to understand the neural mechanisms that drive increased risk-taking behaviors due to TBIs. The specific areas of the brain I was interested in looking at were the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and/or anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of the prefrontal …
Effect Of Dosage On Severity Of Dysphagia In A Toxicological Rat Model Of Parkinson's Disease, 2024 Rowan University
Effect Of Dosage On Severity Of Dysphagia In A Toxicological Rat Model Of Parkinson's Disease, Shivam Patel, Taylor Good, Nicholas Zanghi, Francois Gould
Rowan-Virtua Research Day
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a prevalent and devastating neurodegenerative disorder that causes progressively worsening motor symptoms affecting locomotor and oropharyngeal function. There is limited research in animal models on swallowing dysfunction in PD. To examine how neurodegeneration in PD produces progressive impairment in the oropharyngeal and locomotor processes, rotenone, a type II mitochondrial inhibitor, was injected into Lewis rat models to reproduce a parkinsonian phenotype. We hypothesized that the animal models injected with the rotenone will exhibit both oropharyngeal dysfunction and locomotor deficiency with an increased deficit that correlates with prolonged treatment. We utilized 18 rats receiving either 2.75 mg/kg …
A Preliminary Report On The Role Of Lipoxin A4 In Reinstating The Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity In A Rodent Model Of Acute Inflammation With Impaired Cerebrovasculature, 2024 Rowan University
A Preliminary Report On The Role Of Lipoxin A4 In Reinstating The Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity In A Rodent Model Of Acute Inflammation With Impaired Cerebrovasculature, Minjal Patel, Shruti Varshney, Ananya Nethikunta, George G. Godsey, Mary C. Kosciuk, Ana Rodriguez, Bernd Spur, Kingsley Yin, Randel L. Swanson, Venkat Venkataraman, Robert G. Nagele, Nimish Acharya
Rowan-Virtua Research Day
Background: The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is responsible for maintaining brain homeostasis and ultimately proper neuronal function. Disruption of the BBB, leading to increased BBB permeability, has been reported in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Lipoxins (LXs) are a class of arachidonate-derived eicosanoids, which are a class of specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs). SPMs are known to inhibit immune response through inhibition of cellular infiltration, downregulation of pro-inflammatory mediators and upregulation of anti-inflammatory mediators. Hence, LXs are recognized as “breaking signals” in the inflammatory process. One form of LXs, Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) …
Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Expression In The Hippocampus Of Patients With Schizophrenia, 2024 Rowan University
Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Expression In The Hippocampus Of Patients With Schizophrenia, Shruti Varshney, Ananya Nethikunta, Minjal Patel, Mary Kosciuk, Randel L. Swanson, Venkat Venkataraman, Robert Nagele, Eric Goldwaser, Nimish Acharya
Rowan-Virtua Research Day
Background: Schizophrenia (SZ) is a heterogenous psychiatric condition characterized by disruptions in cognition, social activity, affect, and perception often associated with a varied combination of positive and negative symptoms. The pathophysiology behind SZ remains poorly elucidated. Earlier reports have cited the importance of the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChR) in the hippocampus and the receptor’s association with auditory sensory gating and cognitive function. Specifically, variations in the expression and functionality of α7nAChR can be linked to auditory hallucinations experienced by patients with SZ and several therapies have been researched that target α7nAChRs. However, there are very few primary research …
Optimization Of Tyrosine Hydroxylase Antibody For Immunohistochemistry Fluorescence Detection In Zebrafish (Danio Rerio), 2024 University of Nebraska at Omaha
Optimization Of Tyrosine Hydroxylase Antibody For Immunohistochemistry Fluorescence Detection In Zebrafish (Danio Rerio), Madison Thurber
Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects
Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter produced through the catecholamine synthesis pathway that affects brain activity. Unregulated dopamine levels can lead to various diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Optimization of an immunohistochemistry protocol will allow for the quantification of tyrosine hydroxylase antibody, which indirectly allows for dopamine quantification in dopaminergic regions within the brain. However, the antibody concentration to give the optimal signal-to-noise ratio in IHC varies across studies. Through this experiment, I determined the concentration of tyrosine hydroxylase (TyrH) antibody for immunohistochemistry that gave the best signal-to-background noise ratio within several known dopaminergic regions …