Distributions Of Axons Immunoreactive For Alpha-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone And Neurons Immunoreactive For Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase In The Hypothalamus Of The Adult Male Rat: An Analysis Of Interactions And Their Representation In An Atlas Reference Space,
2020
University of Texas at El Paso
Distributions Of Axons Immunoreactive For Alpha-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone And Neurons Immunoreactive For Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase In The Hypothalamus Of The Adult Male Rat: An Analysis Of Interactions And Their Representation In An Atlas Reference Space, Eduardo Peru
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
In the present study, we have provided two sets of high spatial-resolution maps for neuronal populations containing the immunoreactive presence of the key feeding-related peptides hypocretin/orexin (H/O), alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (αMSH) and the nitric oxide-producing enzyme, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). These were mapped across the mediolateral and dorsoventral extents of the hypothalamus in the Swanson rat brain atlas, from levels 23–30. The first set of these maps are of the chemoarchitectural distributions for each of the neuronal populations mentioned, which are novel in two ways. First, they were generated across multiple animals to serve as the basis for probability …
Inhibition Of Glycine Transporter 2: An Emerging Target For Chronic Pain,
2020
University of Texas at El Paso
Inhibition Of Glycine Transporter 2: An Emerging Target For Chronic Pain, Elvia Lilia Padilla
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
Chronic pain is a complicated, completely unknown condition that has been studied based on its severe impact on the population. According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, 1.5 billion people suffer from tension-type headaches, one of the most common symptomatic chronic conditions. Christopher L. Cioffi, 2019; mentioned approximately in US 116 million adults are explicitly afflicted by chronic pain. Chronic pain is described as dysfunction in nerves that have been continuous during a long period (Mills, 2019). Treatments for chronic pain are different types of common analgesics that relieve the pain for short periods such as aspirin, ibuprofen, paracetamol, …
Role Of Clic4 And The Synaptic Transcriptome In The Behavioral And Molecular Neurobiology Of Ethanol,
2020
Virginia Commonwealth University
Role Of Clic4 And The Synaptic Transcriptome In The Behavioral And Molecular Neurobiology Of Ethanol, Rory M. Weston
Theses and Dissertations
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a prevalent neuropsychiatric disease with profound health, social, and economic consequences. With an estimated 50% heritability, identifying genes that engender risk and contribute to the underlying neurobiological mechanisms represents an important first step in developing effective treatments. Gene expression studies are an important source of candidate genes for studying AUD, providing windows into the molecular machinery engaged by the brain in response to ethanol. Published studies have identified chloride intracellular channel 4 (Clic4) as an ethanol-regulated gene in brain capable of modulating sensitivity to sedation in multiple species. The functions of Clic4 are …
Effects Of Gestational Ozone Exposure On Privileged Placental And Brain Barrier Integrity,
2020
Virginia Commonwealth University
Effects Of Gestational Ozone Exposure On Privileged Placental And Brain Barrier Integrity, Alexander I. Hamm
Theses and Dissertations
Ambient outdoor ozone, a common of component of photochemical smog and urban air pollution, is linked to various neurological and vascular pathologies. Its immediate reaction with lung surfactant after inhalation results in complete reactivity of the gas, with no active ozone passing into circulation. This indicates the presence of secondary and tertiary mediators in ozone-related systemic pathologies after pulmonary insult. In vasculature, ozone exposure is associated with an acute hypertensive phenotype apparent at least 24 hours after dose, such as experienced on a hot summer afternoon in a large metropolitan area like Los Angeles or Mexico City. However, the effects …
Lpa Receptors Modulate Gene Expression During Oligodendrocyte Differentiation,
2020
Virginia Commonwealth University
Lpa Receptors Modulate Gene Expression During Oligodendrocyte Differentiation, Samantha A. Spencer
Theses and Dissertations
LPA, produced by the lysoPLD activity of ATX, binds its cognate receptors and regulates the development of multiple brain cells, including oligodendrocytes (OLGs). OLGs progress through a lineage from precursor (OPC) to early OLG to immature OLG, until finally the cells mature and enwrap axons to enable saltatory conduction and provide trophic support. The studies in this dissertation characterized the receptors LPA4 and LPA6 as inhibitors of OPC differentiation. Western blot analysis of MS patient lesion tissue found a negative correlation between ATX levels and levels of LPA4 and LPA6. A previously created homology model for LPA4 was used to …
Neuroscience Of Stress & Addiction: A Digitally Animated Video On How These Brain Systems Interact And Influence Each Other From Early Life Stress To Withdrawal,
2020
Scripps College
Neuroscience Of Stress & Addiction: A Digitally Animated Video On How These Brain Systems Interact And Influence Each Other From Early Life Stress To Withdrawal, Claire Bacon-Brenes
Scripps Senior Theses
Alcohol addiction and stress are both highly prevalent health conditions impacting our society. With stress on the rise in college students and alcohol addiction impacting 19.7 million Americans as of 2017, communication around the science of these issues is ever important because of stigma around them. This digitally animated video effectively explains alcohol addiction and stress on a neurobiological level with college science students as the audience, including two important examples of how stress and alcohol addiction interact. Stress experienced early in life is a known risk factor in developing addiction due to dysregulation of the reward pathway and altered …
Tribal Brains In The Global Village: Deeper Roots Of The Pandemic,
2020
University of Toronto Mississauga
Tribal Brains In The Global Village: Deeper Roots Of The Pandemic, Robert Gerlai
Animal Sentience
I briefly recap the messages of the target article by Wiebers & Feigin (2020) and the accompanying peer commentaries about what we learn from the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the rapid evolution of viruses as an example of the importance of prevention, I explore why it is difficult for our species to foresee and prevent unintended global changes resulting from human activity. I end with a discussion about the long-term future, the ultimate problem inherent in our current mindset and the structure of our economy: growth.
Zoonotic Realism, Computational Cognitive Science And Pandemic Prevention,
2020
Texas Tech University
Zoonotic Realism, Computational Cognitive Science And Pandemic Prevention, Tyler Davis, Molly E. Ireland, Jason Van Allen, Darrell A. Worthy
Animal Sentience
Using animals in food and food production systems is one of many drivers of novel zoonoses. Moving toward less dependence on animal proteins is a possible avenue for reducing pandemic risk, but we think that Wiebers & Feigin’s proposed change to food policy (phasing out animal meat production) is unrealistic in its political achievability and its current capacity to feed the world in a cost-effective and sustainable manner. We suggest that improvements in communication strategies, precipitated by developments in computational cognitive neuroscience, can lead the way to a safer future and are feasible now.
Problems With Basing Insect Ethics On Individuals’ Welfare,
2020
Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
Problems With Basing Insect Ethics On Individuals’ Welfare, Susana Monsó, Antonio J. Osuna-Mascaró
Animal Sentience
In their target article, Mikhalevich & Powell (M&P) argue that we should extend moral protection to arthropods. In this commentary, we show that there are some unforeseen obstacles to applying the sort of individualistic welfare-based ethics that M&P have in mind to certain arthropods, namely, insects. These obstacles have to do with the fact that there are often many more individuals involved in our dealings with insects than our ethical theories anticipate, and also with the fact that, in some sense, some insects count as more than an individual and, in another sense, they sometimes count as less than an …
Inhibition Of Pain Or Response To Injury In Invertebrates And Vertebrates,
2020
University of London - Queen Mary and Westfield College
Inhibition Of Pain Or Response To Injury In Invertebrates And Vertebrates, Matilda Gibbons, Sajedeh Sarlak
Animal Sentience
In certain situations, insects appear to lack a response to noxious stimuli that would cause pain in humans. For example, from the fact that male mantids continue to mate while being eaten by their partner it does not follow that insects do not feel pain; it could be the result of modulation of nociceptive inputs or behavioural outputs. When we try to infer the underlying mental state of an insect from its behaviour, it is important to consider the behavioural effects of the associated physiological and neurobiological mechanisms.
A Genome-Wide Association Study Of Cocaine Use Disorder Accounting For Phenotypic Heterogeneity And Gene–Environment Interaction,
2020
Old Dominion University
A Genome-Wide Association Study Of Cocaine Use Disorder Accounting For Phenotypic Heterogeneity And Gene–Environment Interaction, Jiangwen Sun, Henry R. Kranzler, Joel Gelernter, Jinbo Bi
Computer Science Faculty Publications
Background: Phenotypic heterogeneity and complicated gene-environment interplay in etiology are among the primary factors that hinder the identification of genetic variants associated with cocaine use disorder. Methods: To detect novel genetic variants associated with cocaine use disorder, we derived disease traits with reduced phenotypic heterogeneity using cluster analysis of a study sample (n = 9965). We then used these traits in genome-wide association tests, performed separately for 2070 African Americans and 1570 European Americans, using a new mixed model that accounted for the moderating effects of 5 childhood environmental factors. We used an independent sample (918 African Americans, 1382 European …
Targeting The Nt17 Of The Huntingtin Protein Via Natural And Chemical Modifications: Impact On Aggregation And Membrane Interactions, Faezeh Sedighi
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Huntington Disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded polyglutamine domain (polyQ) in the first exon of the huntingtin protein (htt-exon1). The major hallmark of HD is the accumulation of aggregates into proteinaceous inclusion bodies. PolyQ expansion in huntingtin promotes self-assembly into a variety of toxic aggregates such as oligomers, fibrils, and amorphous aggregates. The resulting heterogeneous mixture of distinct species makes it difficult to assign a toxic function to specific aggregate structures. In addition, htt interacts with a variety of membranous surfaces. The first 17 amino acids (Nt17) of htt directly flanking the polyQ domain functions …
Impact Of Uk Sport Fishing On Fish Welfare And Conservation,
2020
Tim Q Holmes
Impact Of Uk Sport Fishing On Fish Welfare And Conservation, Tim Q. Holmes
Animal Sentience
Sport fishing or angling is the capture of fish for recreation or competition, i.e., for entertainment. Contrary to the claims of Key (2016), there is good evidence that fish feel pain and have the capacity for self-awareness (Sneddon et al., 2018; Woodruff, 2017). Wild fish experience a variety of adverse conditions in nature that can harm their welfare, but this does not justify humans intentionally inflicting such conditions on fish solely for our pleasure. This commentary summarises the many ways fish suffer harm to their welfare as a result of sport fishing. There are also discussions on associated activities that …
Factors Influencing Huntingtin Aggregation At Surfaces: Implications For Huntington’S Disease,
2020
West Virginia University
Factors Influencing Huntingtin Aggregation At Surfaces: Implications For Huntington’S Disease, Sharon E. Groover
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a genetic, neurodegenerative disease characterized by an abnormal polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the first exon of the huntingtin protein (htt). The polyQ domain facilitates aggregation and initiates the formation of a diverse collection of aggregate species, including fibrils, oligomers and annular aggregates. The first 17 amino acids of htt (Nt17) directly flank the polyQ domain and is a key factor in htt’s association to membranous structures. In addition to Nt17 being an amphipathic αhelix, it also promotes aggregation through self-association and contains numerous posttranslational modifications (PTMs) that can modulate toxicity and subcellular localization. For in depth …
The Interplay Of Progestins, Matrix Metalloproteinases, And The Aging Brain,
2020
West Virginia University
The Interplay Of Progestins, Matrix Metalloproteinases, And The Aging Brain, Keyana Nicole Porter
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Progestins are synthetic hormones that are designed to mimic the biological actions of progesterone. They, however, possess other pharmacological actions and properties, in addition to their progestational activities. Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (MPA) is a progestin used globally in the hormonal contraceptive, Depo Provera®, by women in their reproductive prime and is a major compound found in hormone therapy (HT) formulations used by menopausal women. MPA is used by approximately 1 in 5 adolescents and adult women in the United States who are sexually active. Globally, nearly 48 million women utilize injectable contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, with most users utilizing MPA as …
C-Jun Nh2-Terminal Kinase Signaling Controls Cellular Mechanisms Of Guided Cortical Interneuron Migration,
2020
West Virginia University
C-Jun Nh2-Terminal Kinase Signaling Controls Cellular Mechanisms Of Guided Cortical Interneuron Migration, Skye Eleanor Smith
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The cerebral cortex is an intricately organized brain structure responsible for high-level functions including sensory perception, movement, memory, language, and cognition. During corticogenesis, cortical excitatory neurons and inhibitory interneurons migrate from their respective progenitor zones into the developing cerebral cortex, deposit in the correct cortical layer, and establish connections with their appropriate synaptic partners. The balance between excitation and inhibition is critical for cortical circuitry development and function. Aberrant migration of inhibitory interneurons can alter the formation of cortical circuitry and lead to several neurodevelopmental disorders including epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder, and schizophrenia. Therefore, elucidating the mechanisms responsible for inhibitory …
Ideology And Predictive Processing: Coordination, Bias, And Polarization In Socially Constrained Error Minimization,
2020
University of Toronto
Ideology And Predictive Processing: Coordination, Bias, And Polarization In Socially Constrained Error Minimization, Nathan E. Wheeler, Suraiya Allidina, Elizabeth U. Long, Stephen P. Schneider, Ingrid J. Haas, William A. Cunningham
Department of Political Science: Faculty Publications
Recent models of cognition suggest that the brain may implement predictive processing, in which top-down expectations constrain incoming sensory data. In this perspective, expectations are updated (error minimization) only if sensory data sufficiently deviate from these expectations (prediction error). Although originally applied to perception, predictive processing is thought to generally characterize cognitive architecture, including the social cognitive processes involved in ideological thinking. Scaling up these simple computational principles to the social sphere outlines a path by which group members may adopt shared ideologies and beliefs to predict behavior and cooperate with each other. Because ideological judgments are of specific interest …
Impact Of A Multimodal Exercise Program On Tibial Bone Health In Adolescents With Development Coordination Disorder: An Examination Of Feasibility And Potential Efficacy,
2020
Edith Cowan University
Impact Of A Multimodal Exercise Program On Tibial Bone Health In Adolescents With Development Coordination Disorder: An Examination Of Feasibility And Potential Efficacy, Jocelyn L. Tan, Aris Siafarikas, Timo Rantalainen, Nicolas H. Hart, Fleur Mcintyre, Beth Hands, Paola Chivers
Research outputs 2014 to 2021
© 2020, International Society of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions. All rights reserved. Objectives: Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) compromises bone health purportedly due to lower levels of physical activity. The potential of an exercise intervention to improve bone health parameters in adolescents with DCD has not previously been studied. This study thus aimed to determine the impact of a multimodal exercise intervention on bone health in this population at-risk of secondary osteoporosis. Methods: Twenty-eight adolescents (17 male, 11 female) aged between 12-17 years (Mage =14.1) with DCD participated in a twice weekly, 13-week generalised multimodal exercise intervention. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography …
Genetic Evidence, Maoa, And State V. Yepez,
2020
Duke Law School
Genetic Evidence, Maoa, And State V. Yepez, Nita A. Farahany, Roderick T. Kennedy, Brandon L. Garrett
Faculty Scholarship
No abstract provided.
Characterizing The Requirements For The Matricellular Protein, Dccn, In Nervous System Function,
2020
University of Montana
Characterizing The Requirements For The Matricellular Protein, Dccn, In Nervous System Function, Elizabeth L. Catudio Garrett
Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers
The brain is organized as a complex network of specialized neurons that communicate via a combination of electrical and chemical signals. Our brains function to generate movement, control organ function, or direct complex behaviors; all of which requires the ability to regulate the flow of communication between circuits and networks. Work in this thesis addresses two areas of neuron communication: first, how does the release of more than one neurotransmitter from a single neuron impact behavior, and second, are matricellular proteins (MCPs) key contributors to synaptic transmission and neuron function? The conserved CCN family of MCPs have a …
