Category: 2016-17

Figure 1 Lipid-coated gold nanorods used to study transfection efficacy of HSP promoters
2016-17, Biology, Chemistry

Cancer Therapy Employing Lipid-coated Gold Nanorod

By Rideeta Raquib ’19 Gene regulation induced by light has potential for noninvasive control over the function of target cells. One such method involves the delivery of photothermal heaters and heat shock protein (HSP) promoter-driven protein expression vectors into the cells and then illuminating them to activate the cells. HSP promoters are controlled by heat shock factor, which is a transcription factor in the cytosol … Continue reading Cancer Therapy Employing Lipid-coated Gold Nanorod

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Figure 1 A protein involved in malaria development identified
2016-17, Biology, Health

Novel Findings to Tackle Malaria

By Rideeta Raquib ’19 Malaria is a deadly disease caused by single-celled parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Once the body is infected, sporozoites migrate to the liver and replicate to merozoites. A sporozoite in a motile, sporelike phase during a parasite’s asexual reproduction. A merozoite is the growth stage, which occurs in the bloodstream. The toxins released by merozoites destroy red blood cells and can … Continue reading Novel Findings to Tackle Malaria

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Figure 1: Music cues can be utilized for motor learning and can alter brain structure
2016-17, Neuroscience

Music Affects Brain Structure

By Rideeta Raquib ’19 Whether it be going out for a jog or driving a car, our day-to-day physical movements are often coordinated with music. Recently, researchers have harnessed music and employed auditory cues in response to musical stimuli to enhance movement learning and rehabilitation. Previous studies have shown that musicians tend to have a higher fractional anisotropy (FA) values than non-musicians. FA is a … Continue reading Music Affects Brain Structure

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Figure 1. Pleocytosis (shown here) is an increased cell count — particularly an increase in white blood cell (WBC) count — in a bodily fluid such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
2016-17, Biology

Neutrophilic Pleocytosis is Connected to Viral CNS Infections

By Caleb Sooknanan ’20 Viral central nervous system (CNS) infections are often associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lymphocytic pleocytosis, or an increase in the fluid’s white blood cell count. However, these infections are also connected to neutrophilic pleocytosis, an increase in the fluid’s neutrophil count. The clinical and prognostic significance of CSF neutrophilic pleocytosis remains unknown in patients. Doctor Siraya Jaijakul and researchers at the … Continue reading Neutrophilic Pleocytosis is Connected to Viral CNS Infections

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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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