Author: Young Investigators Review

The Young Investigators Review is Stony Brook University's undergraduate-oriented, all-inclusive science journal. Founded in 2008, our mission is to provide the student community with a way to learn more about the research currently being done on-campus by their faculty and fellow peers. We feature articles that span all fields, from Physics to Neuroscience, as well as original student research reports straight from the campus laboratories. Our journal offers aspiring talented future researchers and physicians a way to hone their science writing skills and spread word of their experiences to inspire incoming students to think about devoting their futures to the various fields of science.
2016-17, Biology, Engineering

Capsule Robots Can Be Used for Biosensor Implantation

By Caleb Sooknanan ’20 Biosensors have become increasingly practical within the medical field, as they can detect different biometrics such as heart rate and body temperature levels. However, current biosensors can wear out quickly and elicit health problems such as trauma. Many efforts — especially in the area of capsule robotics — have been made to develop biosensors that are noninvasive and effective at monitoring … Continue reading Capsule Robots Can Be Used for Biosensor Implantation

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Figure 1. Research now suggests that fungi, after being genetically engineered to produce spider and scorpion toxins, could help eliminate malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
2016-17, Biology

Arthropod Toxins Used to Engineer Mosquito-Killing Fungi

By Caleb Sooknanan ’20 Mosquitoes are known to transmit potent diseases — particularly malaria and dengue fever — among humans. The impact of these diseases is most apparent in sub-Saharan Africa, where over 200 million cases of malaria are reported annually. Many disease control programs in the region have used broad-spectrum insecticides to eliminate mosquitoes and reduce the spread of vector-borne diseases. However, malarial mosquitoes … Continue reading Arthropod Toxins Used to Engineer Mosquito-Killing Fungi

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Caption: Parent and child stress hormone levels may be bidirectionally concordant, with both influencing the other’s HPA axis activity.
2016-17, Health

Parent and child cortisol levels show concordance in certain conditions

Aaradhana Natarajan, 2020 The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, or HPA axis, is a neuroendocrine pathway that is linked to emotional functioning and health. Researchers at the University of Maryland College Park, led by Dr. Stephanie Merwin, recently investigated whether or not the HPA axis functioning of a child showed correlation to that of their parents. They accounted for both the child’s temperament and parent’s psychological history in … Continue reading Parent and child cortisol levels show concordance in certain conditions

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Caption: Gray matter is a crucial component of the human nervous system, and the location of synaptic connections. This is where thoughts are formed.
2016-17, Biology

Perinatally acquired HIV associated with lower regional grey matter volume

Aaradhana Natarajan, 2020 The Human Immunodeficiency Virus, commonly called HIV, is one of the most widespread immune disorders across the globe. It weakens the immune system by reducing lymphocyte count and increasing susceptibility to other diseases. While it is most commonly known for its transmissibility, it is also possible for HIV-positive pregnant women to pass on the infection to their offspring. This form of HIV … Continue reading Perinatally acquired HIV associated with lower regional grey matter volume

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Caption: Mice brains are similar to humans, with study results suggesting that sleep disturbances can lead to the formation of neurodegenerative plaques.
2016-17, Health

Sleep disturbances may play a role in Alzheimer’s pathogenesis

Aaradhana Natarajan, 2020 Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurodegenerative condition that has recently become a popular focus for research. As a result, scientists are now aware that the accumulation of amyloid-β-peptide oligomers (AβOs) play a central role in Alzheimer’s pathogenesis. However, the effect of sleep disturbances on Alzheimer’s risk is relatively underknown. This knowledge gap spurred Dr. Grasielle Kincheski and her team at the Federal University … Continue reading Sleep disturbances may play a role in Alzheimer’s pathogenesis

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Figure 1: Defensiveness is a common symptom of ASD, manifesting in anxiety, social deficits, or other behavioral and psychological symptoms.
2016-17, Health, Psychology

A Potential Mechanism Explaining Tactile Defensiveness in Autism

By Anna Tarasova ’19 Hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli is frequently an aspect of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and can lead to defensiveness against touch and other sensory stimuli. This can contribute to hyperactivity and lead to inattention, learning difficulties, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and many other symptoms of autism. Although the mechanism of this phenomenon has long been unknown, Dr. Cynthia He and her colleagues at … Continue reading A Potential Mechanism Explaining Tactile Defensiveness in Autism

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Figure 1: Type 1 IFN protein.
2016-17, Biology

Determining a Mechanism for Nervous System Lupus

By Anna Tarasova ’19 Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an uncommon but debilitating autoimmune disease that is accompanied by psychiatric and neurological symptoms in 75% of cases. SLE with these neuropsychiatric symptoms that include depression, anxiety, and seizures is known as CNS lupus. The mechanism behind CNS lupus has long been a mystery. Dr. Allison Bialas and her team analyzed SLE progression in a lupus-prone … Continue reading Determining a Mechanism for Nervous System Lupus

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Figure 1: Fetus at 9-10 weeks estimated gestational age (EGA)
2016-17, Biology, Health

New Discoveries in Fetal Immune Response Capacity

By Anna Tarasova ’19 The immune system of a fetus differs significantly from that of an infant or adult. During the second trimester of pregnancy, a fetus’s immune system is able to recognize antigens, or foreign cells, and conduct an immune response using dendritic cells. Dendritic cells are antigen-presenting cells (APC), which means that they place antigens along with specific receptors on their cell surface … Continue reading New Discoveries in Fetal Immune Response Capacity

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2016-17, Chemistry

Magnetic Nanoparticles for Oil Removal

Meghan Bialt-DeCelie ’19 One of the costliest processes in oil and gas production is safe disposal of produced water. This water contains tiny amounts of oil that are difficult to separate and make water unsafe for the environment. Traditional methods such as gravitational separation of oil are costly and are not reliable for removing the tiny droplets of oil that remain in the water, making … Continue reading Magnetic Nanoparticles for Oil Removal

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2016-17, Ecology

How Far the Penguins Should March

Meghan Bialt-DeCelie ’19 The effects of Global Climate Change can dramatically alter the environment as well as the organisms which inhabit it. One species that is particularly affected by climate change is the emperor penguin (EP), so much so that researchers from the Wood Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) believe they should be protected under the Endangered Species Act. The random and unpredictable nature of climate … Continue reading How Far the Penguins Should March

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Figure 1. Acoustic analysis of buzzing from foraging bees provides a faster and less invasive method of monitoring bee pollination.
2016-17, Ecology

That Buzzing Noise

Meghan Bialt-DeCelie ’19 Bees play a critical role in crop survival. Because of this, farmers and scientists must always stay ahead by following patterns in their behavior to quickly manage and appropriately respond to complications in their population growth. Acoustic analysis of organisms is not a new concept; however, it is not often used on insects. Researchers led by Nicole Miller-Struttmann PhD from Webster University … Continue reading That Buzzing Noise

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Figure 1: Oleic acid, found in olive oil, plays a role in cancer prevention.
2016-17, Health

Compound Found In Olive Oil Found to Prevent Cancer

By Rideeta Raquib MicroRNAs or miRs are small non-coding RNAs that guide gene regulation, such as the expression of their target mRNAs in a complex with ribucleoproteins called miRNPs. Inhibition of translation or a decrease in mRNA can cause miR-mediated downregulation of gene expression. Deregulation of microRNAs is associated with development of pathological illnesses including cancer. A potential tumor suppressor, miR-7, is regulated at both … Continue reading Compound Found In Olive Oil Found to Prevent Cancer

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