Phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten) is a tumor suppressor gene that is knocked out or mutated in many cancers. Additionally, knocking out this gene in mice causes cataracts and other developmental issues with the lens. This project involves analyzing differential gene expression in the form of RNAseq data encompassing the entire transcriptome of the lens […]
C35-P: The Impact of COVID-19 on Respiratory Illness Mortality and Health Disparities in the US: An Analysis of Time Series
According to the CDC, COVID-19 has caused nearly 570K deaths in the US as of early April 2020. COVID-19 can cause numerous complications including blood clots, nerve damage, and pneumonia. The impact of COVID-19 can be observed through potential changes in pneumonia and influenza deaths in 2020 compared to previous years. The impact of COVID-19 […]
C37-P: Internet of Things Botnet Detection Using Network Flow Analysis
Our general research area is cybersecurity in the Internet of Things(IoT). The Internet of Things proposes an unprecedented opportunity as everything can be interconnected; however, it also raises countless security risks. Adversely, a network of bots can be deployed to attack a variety of systems and devices, causing malicious activity. We are working on creating […]
C38-P: Role of β-Adrenergic Signaling in Infant Stress-Enhanced Fear Learning
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 […]
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 […]
C43-P: The Joys and Pains of Popular Science Writing
Efficient communication to a non-scientific audience requires unique skills, as the author must ‘translate’ complex scientific findings in an understandable fashion for the public. This skillset is captured in popular science writing, a writing subdiscipline where scientifically literate authors attempt to communicate scientific principles and discoveries to the general public. The Microbiology Club undertook a […]
C41-P: The Effect of Stressor Predictability on Stress Enhanced Fear Learning
While fear can be adaptive by inhibiting pain and eliciting defensive behavior, long lasting fear can have negative effects on overall health, including psychological disorders, such as PTSD (Harris & Seckl, 2011; Bolles & Fanselow, 1980). Unpredictability of an aversive event can sensitize the fear circuitry causing an increase in one’s stress response later in […]