Racial Disparities in Childhood Adversity Exposure Influence Neuroanatomical Development

Vignesh Subramanian ’24 Childhood adversity is a broad term encompassing a range of experiences and circumstances that negatively impact a child’s well-being and development. Such circumstances include trauma and exposure to violence, all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and family economic hardship, with profound and stratified implications for lifelong health. Lasting effects often include the development of toxic stress responses, accumulating hormones that over-activate certain … Continue reading Racial Disparities in Childhood Adversity Exposure Influence Neuroanatomical Development

Early Taste Experiences Drive Neural Responsiveness and Plasticity in Gustatory Cortex Circuits

Vignesh Subramanian ’24 An individual’s taste preference strongly influences their food choice, impacting their diet and, in turn, their health. Taste preference is defined as an individual’s partiality towards a particular food based on their sensory perception of its taste modalities (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, etc.), flavor, texture, and a host of other factors, and is in part guided by early experiences that identify foods … Continue reading Early Taste Experiences Drive Neural Responsiveness and Plasticity in Gustatory Cortex Circuits

Dancing on the Way to Good Health: The Implications for Culturally Relevant Dancing in the Latino Older Adult Population

Peter Gillespie ’25 Figure 1  Merengue, cha-cha cha, bachata, and salsa are four popular forms of dancing that have the potential to increase physical activity, thereby helping to prevent cognitive decline. Physical activity is crucial in improving the health of older individuals. Within the Latino community, there is a rich cultural history of various genres of dance that may help promote  widespread physical activity among … Continue reading Dancing on the Way to Good Health: The Implications for Culturally Relevant Dancing in the Latino Older Adult Population

Inflammatory diet associated with cognitive impairment 

By: Jessica George, Class of 2024 Figure 1: dietary patterns may predict cognitive decline in older adults Cognitive decline is a major public health concern that affects millions of older adults worldwide. Age-related cognitive decline can lead to mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. While there is no cure for these conditions, early detection and intervention can improve outcomes and quality of life … Continue reading Inflammatory diet associated with cognitive impairment 

Fighting opioid mortality rates with AI-based forecasts using social media language

By Shahzadi Adeena, Class of 2025 Figure 1:  Pill container laying on counter with cap off The United States has been battling an opioid epidemic for over twenty years, with opioid-related deaths increasing by 350% in this period. A critical obstacle is that the driving force (such as usage of prescription drugs or synthetic opioids) differs within communities and over time. Current methods to follow … Continue reading Fighting opioid mortality rates with AI-based forecasts using social media language

Effect of acculturative stress and internalization on body image of deaf women 

By Shahzadi Adeena, Class of 2025 Figure 1 : Two women talking to each other in sign language Body image dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors are causes for concern, as they are associated with psychological disturbances. Although research on body image concern has primarily focused on white women, the extent of such concerns varies among cultural groups. Factors such as cultural identity confusion, acculturation status (the … Continue reading Effect of acculturative stress and internalization on body image of deaf women 

Development of Innovative Burn Assessment Technique Using Neural Network

Julia Chivu ’23 The current burn injury evaluation methods available for clinical use are ineffective and outdated. These circumstances are problematic as the initial injury assessment is necessary to ensure the best clinical treatment plan for the patient. Burns can lead to deep tissue damages, necrosis, and severe scarring. Without a proper course of action, the injury can negatively impact the patient’s quality of life, … Continue reading Development of Innovative Burn Assessment Technique Using Neural Network

What’s better: negative-pressure wound therapy or standard surgical dressings?

By Shahzadi Adeena, Class of 2025 Figure 1: Health professional holding rolled out gauze Doctors seek to improve post-operative care, as it is a critical aspect of surgery that determines success or infection. Following a surgical procedure, it is routine to apply standard surgical dressings (SSDs) on patients to promote healing and prevent infection. Modern surgical dressings are usually gauze dressings made of cotton, rayon, … Continue reading What’s better: negative-pressure wound therapy or standard surgical dressings?

In the 21st century, you can become a Christian through AI

By Shahzadi Adeena, Class of 2025 Figure 1: Human Hand Reaching Out to AI With artificial intelligence (AI) on the rise, chatbots have become a valuable resource for many sectors of society. Economic, education, and health industries all benefit from the efficiency and extent of artificial intelligence assistance; other sectors, such as religion, are also susceptible to influence by up-and-coming AI. Researchers Khoa Tran and … Continue reading In the 21st century, you can become a Christian through AI

Black Patients More Likely Than White Patients to Suffer Negative Outcomes After Spine Surgery

By: Jessica George, Class of 2024 Figure 1: Disparities in healthcare outcomes may be due to systemic biases in healthcare delivery Racial disparities in healthcare outcomes have been well-documented in numerous studies, including those focused on surgical procedures. Despite advances in surgical techniques and technologies, disparities in surgical outcomes persist, with some racial and ethnic groups experiencing worse outcomes than others. Understanding the factors that … Continue reading Black Patients More Likely Than White Patients to Suffer Negative Outcomes After Spine Surgery

Non-planned and impulsive suicide attempts associated with low activity of frontal brain 

By: Jessica George, Class of 2024 Figure 1: Global frontal brain activity may be a biomarker for non-planned or impulsive suicide attempts Suicide is a serious public health concern and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. One of the major challenges in preventing suicide is the frequent non-planned or impulsive nature of suicidal behavior, leaving little opportunity for intervention. Therefore, it is essential … Continue reading Non-planned and impulsive suicide attempts associated with low activity of frontal brain 

Adélie Penguins Are at Risk of Extinction by Climate Change

Melanie Karniewich ’25 Climate change is becoming more alarming at an increasing rate across the globe, affecting humanity and other life. Associate professor of ecology and evolution Heather Lynch and other researchers at Stony Brook University traveled to visit Adélie penguin colonies in Penguin Point, Devil Island, Vortex Island, and Cockburn Island. Comparing the population sizes with the severity of climate change in that area, … Continue reading Adélie Penguins Are at Risk of Extinction by Climate Change