Early life stress (ELS) produces an increased vulnerability for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One of the hallmark characteristics of PTSD is an increase in fear responding over time (Elharrar et al., 2013). Using a well-established rodent model developed in our lab between early life adversity and the development of PTSD-like phenotype, which we call stress-enhanced […]
C39-P: Exploring Sex Differences in the Effects of Acute Early Life Stress on Reward Learning and Drug Sensitization in Adult Rats
Acute early life stress (ELS) has major behavioral and physiological implications later in life in mammals. In past experiments, the focus has been on chronic and not acute early life stressors. The literature is growing regarding the effects of ELS on drug-taking behavior later in life in both humans and rodent models. There is increased […]
C51-P: Systolic Blood Pressure and Other Potential Variables as Indicators of Gait Speed in Older Adults
BACKGROUND: Aging is associated with the decline in physical function and mobility, including usual gait speed. Decreasing gait speed is associated with increased mortality, morbidity rates, as well loss of independence. Thus, identifying predictors for declining gait speed is of clinical importance. Interestingly, previous literature has reported an association between declining rates of gait speeds and […]
C53-P: Associations Among Prescription Medication Use, Depressive Symptoms, and Physical Activity in Older Adults
Prescription medication use and polypharmacy (use of multiple medications to treat one ailment) have nearly doubled over the past two decades. Literature indicates that individuals who are depressed spend more time participating in sedentary behavior and individuals with polypharmacy are at higher risk of becoming depressed. Studies examining the relationship between the three variables (prescription […]
C54-P: Risky Behaviors and Drinking Habits Among ROTC Students, Student-Athletes, and Students with Merit Scholarships
Binge drinking (a male drinking 5 or more drinks in one setting and a female drinking 4 or more drinks in one setting) has become very common in young adults that go to a 4-year college. Binge drinking is linked to higher levels of injuries, sexual and physical assaults, higher criminal activity, unprotected sex, missing […]
C40-P: The Impact of Early Life Stress on the Development of Obesity and Anxiety Behavior in Adulthood
Individuals who experience early adversity are vulnerable to numerous somatic (e.g, obesity, heart disease) and psychological (e.g., anxiety, depression) health consequences later in life. Obesity affects one in six children and more than one-third of all adults in the United States. Current stress indicators range from absence of, or neglect by, the mother to a […]
C44-P: The Effects of Early Life Stress and Serotonin Antagonist Injection in Rat Stress-Enhanced Fear Learning
Early-life stress (ELS) has been found to increase the risk of mental illness and physically alter brain structures and cognition. Research shows that exposure to acute ELS leads to enhanced fear learning later in life. There is some evidence that serotonin signalling mediates anxiety-induced increases in adult fear learning. Specifically, 5HT-2C serotonergic receptors appear to […]
C45-P: The Role of Social Support on Mental Health of Bhutanese Refugees in Ohio
This research focuses on the mental health of Bhutanese refugees. The specific research objective was to explore the association between social support and mental health conditions among the Bhutanese refugee community in Columbus Ohio. Interviews were conducted with 200 resettled Bhutanese refugees using convenience and snow-ball sampling methods. Participants were asked questions adapted from the […]
C47-P: Production and Purification of Savinase Protease from B. subtilis
Protease enzymes are widely utilizing in industry in laundry detergents to break down proteinaceous stains as well in pharmaceutical and food industries. A particular serine protease called Savinase shows promise for usage in high pH detergent solutions due to its broad substrate specificity. In this study we aim to produce and characterize recombinant Savinase made […]
C48-P: Distinguishing Between Cellular Respiration and Oxidative Stress Using Autofluorescence Spectroscopy in a Tissue-like Background
My project involves using laser autofluorescence spectroscopy paired with spectral phasor analysis, a biophysical technique, to distinguish metabolic changes in yeast cells. I have specifically focused on measuring changes associated with reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), which are metabolic cofactors associated with cellular respiration and oxidative stress, respectively. Their […]