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Neuroscience Students |
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Neuroscience Students |
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Neuroscience |
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Stephanie A. Amici |
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Advanced Concentration |
Neuroscience |
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Mentor |
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Department |
Neuroscience |
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Enrolled |
August 2000 |
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Lab Room |
L2-164 |
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Lab Phone |
846-0694 |
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Lab Phone |
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Education |
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B.S., Zoology, Ohio State University |
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Dissertation Research |
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Publications |
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Notterpek L, Roux KJ, Amici SA, Yazdanpour A, Rahner C, Fletcher BS. Peripheral myelin protein 22 is a constituent of intercellular junctions in epithelia. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2001 Dec 4;98(25):14404-9. abstract |
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Abstracts Presented at Meetings |
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Honors & Awards |
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Ray D. Beck |
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Advanced Concentration |
Neuroscience |
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Mentor |
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Department |
Neuroscience |
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Enrolled |
August 1998 |
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Lab Room |
L4-126 |
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Lab Phone |
294-0423 |
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Education |
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Dissertation Research |
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Publications |
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Beck RD Jr, King MA, Huang Z, Petitto JM. Alterations in septohippocampal cholinergic neurons resulting from interleukin-2 gene knockout. Brain Res. 2002 Nov 15;955(1-2):16-23. abstract |
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Petitto JM, Huang Z, Lo J, Beck RD, Rinker C, Hartemink DA. Relationship between the development of autoimmunity and sensorimotor gating in MRL-lpr mice with reduced IL-2 production. Neurosci Lett. 2002 Aug 16;328(3):304-8. abstract |
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Petitto JM, Huang Z, Hartemink DA, Beck R Jr. IL-2/15 receptor-beta gene deletion alters neurobehavioral performance. Brain Res. 2002 Mar 8;929(2):218-25. abstract |
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Abstracts Presented at Meetings |
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Honors & Awards |
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Ann L. Chokas |
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Advanced Concentration |
Neuroscience |
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Mentor |
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Department |
Neuroscience |
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Enrolled |
August 1999 |
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Lab Room |
R3-144 |
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Lab Phone |
392-9239 |
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Education |
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Dissertation Research |
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Characterization of a Cytokine-Dependent Enhancer Element in the Rat MnSOD Gene |
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Publications |
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Kuo S, Chokas AL, Rogers RJ, Nick HS. PIN*POINT analysis on the endogenous MnSOD promoter: specific demonstration of Sp1 binding in vivo. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2003 Feb;284(2):C528-34. abstract |
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Abstracts Presented at Meetings |
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Honors & Awards |
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Jessica R. Conde |
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Advanced Concentration |
Neuroscience |
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Mentor |
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Department |
Neuroscience |
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Enrolled |
August 1999 |
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Lab Room |
L2-162 |
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Lab Phone |
392-9596 |
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Education |
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Dissertation Research |
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As advances in health care and science allow more people to live longer, the effects of aging on brain function have become of particular interest. It is known that with aging, the chance of developing brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease increases significantly, and naturally there has been much scientific focus on such diseases. It is also well documented that the ability to form and retain new memories decreases with normal aging, and there is clearly a need for more research on normal aging in the brain. The objective of my proposal will be to study the effects of aging on a brain cell type known as microglia. Microglia are non-neuronal cells who are involved in sustaining the health of neurons by removing debris and providing trophic support. Microglia have also been implicated in maintaining and remodeling connections between neurons known as synapses. Any changes in the ability of microglia to provide support to neurons or participate in synaptic remodeling may result in decreased brain function and neuronal cell death. The hypothesis behind my proposal is that a lifetime of providing protection and support to neurons weakens microglia, so that they are gradually unable to maintain the status quo. If support for this proposition is found, therapies to strengthen normal microglial function could be used to alleviate or prevent memory-loss or other age-related declines in brain function. |
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Publications |
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Streit WJ, Conde JR, Harrison JK. Chemokines and Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging. 2001 Nov-Dec;22(6):909-13. abstract |
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Abstracts Presented at Meetings |
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Honors & Awards |
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2001 Bryan W. Robinson Neurological Foundation Grant-in-Aid Achievement award (competitive) |
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Rebecca C. Ellis |
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Advanced Concentration |
Neuroscience |
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Mentor |
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Department |
Neuroscience |
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Enrolled |
August 1998 |
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Lab Room |
L2-135 |
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Lab Phone |
294-0032 |
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Education |
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Dissertation Research |
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Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a very complicated physiological injury that is accompanied by tremendous financial, emotional and social ramifications. There are several ongoing avenues of SCI research including physical rehabilitation through locomotion therapy, tissue transplantation, and drug intervention. My interests are more fundamental in that I endeavor to understand the processes that initiate the secondary injury cascade and then propagate it away from the lesion site and toward healthy tissue. Advances in technology have allowed researchers to thoroughly examine changes in gene and protein expression profiles with better resolution than ever before. These same procedures are now being applied to the study of acute SCI. Reports have shown that several possibly destructive proteases, such as the calpains and the caspases, are activated following traumatic SCI. Another potential mediator in the extensive damage seen in the secondary injury cascade belongs to a family of proteases known as the cathepsins. Cathepsin B (cat B) normally functions in protein turnover in the lysosomal compartments of most cells. As a powerful hydrolytic protease, cat B is capable of degrading nucleic acids, complex carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and components of the extracellular matrix and basement membrane. However, its aberrant expression and subcellular relocalization have been linked to several pathological conditions including Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, and tumor metastasis and progression. Furthermore, several of the conditions believed to precipitate cat B activation and relocation are present following SCI. Our preliminary data show that following contusion SCI, both cat B gene and protein expression are upregulated. These data raise the possibility that this protease may be involved in the secondary injury cascade perhaps for as long as one week post-injury. |
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Publications |
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Ellis RC, Earnhardt JN, Hayes RL, Wang KK, Anderson DK. Cathepsin B mRNA and protein expression following contusion spinal cord injury in rats. J Neurochem. 2004 Feb;88(3):689-697. abstract |
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Bitran D, Dugan M, Renda P, Ellis R, Foley M. Anxiolytic effects of the neuroactive steroid pregnanolone (3 alpha-OH-5 beta-pregnan-20-one) after microinjection in the dorsal hippocampus and lateral septum. Brain Res. 1999 Dec 11;850(1-2):217-24. abstract |
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Abstracts Presented at Meetings |
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Bitran D, Klibansky D, Solano S, Dowd S, Ellis RC, and Renda P. Effects of pregnanolone microinjections in the amygdala on behaviors in three animal models of anxiety. Northeast Undergraduate Research on Neuroscience (N.E.U.R.O.N.), Hartford, CT, May 1, 1997. Bitran D, Dugan M, Renda P, Solano S, Dowd S, Klibansky D, Ellis RC and Rausch E. Behavior in animal models of anxiety after intracranial microinjection of pregnanolone in hippocampus, lateral septum, and basolateral amydgala. Society for Neuroscience, New Orleans, LA, October 25-30, 1997. Ellis RC, Bitran D. Picrotoxin blocks the anxiolytic effect of pregnanolone in hippocampus and in the lateral septum, but flumazenil, a central benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, and PK11195, a peripheral benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, do not. Northeast Undergraduate Research on Neuroscience (N.E.U.R.O.N.), Hartford, CT, May 3, 1998. Bitran D, Ellis RC, and Foley M. Intrahippocampal injection of FGIN1-27, a mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptor (MBR) agonist, elicits does-dependent anxiolytic effects that are blocked by picrotoxin, a GABAA receptor-gated Cl- channel blocker, and are attenuated by PK11195, an MBR antagonist. Society for Neuroscience, Miami, FL, October 23-38, 1999. Ellis RC, Earnhardt JN, Nick HS, Hayes RL, Tolentino PJ, O'Steen WA, Shaw G, Anderson DK. Changes in cathepsin B gene and protein expression following acute spinal cord injury. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA. November 10-15, 2001. Ellis RC, Earnhardt JN, Nick HS, Hayes RL, Anderson DK. Characterization of cathepsin B expression following contusion spinal cord injury (SCI). American Society for Neurochemistry, Palm Beach, FL, June 22-26, 2002. Ellis RC, Earnhardt JN, Hayes RL, O'Steen WA, Anderson DK. Contusion Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Induced Changes in Cathepsin B Gene and Protein Expression. National and International Neurotrauma Societies, Tampa, FL, October 27-November 1, 2002. |
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Honors & Awards |
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Fine Scientific Tools Travel Award (2002) Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Trust Fund (2002) ASN Young Investigator Education Enhancement Award (2002) Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Trust Fund (2001) Department of Neuroscience Travel Award (2001) University of Florida Graduate Student Council Travel Award (2001) Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Trust Fund (1999) College of the Holy Cross Compton Gold Medal of Excellence in Science (1998) |
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Barry E. Flanary |
http://agingresearchfoundation.org/ link to "Profiles" to "Barry Flanary" |
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Advanced Concentration |
Neuroscience |
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Mentor |
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Department |
Neuroscience |
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Enrolled |
August 2001 |
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Lab Room |
L2-162 |
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Lab Phone |
392-3910 |
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Education |
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B.S., Biological Sciences, Illinois State University |
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M.S., Biological Sciences, Illinois State University |
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Dissertation Research: Roles of microglial telomere shortening and senescence in normal aging and Alzheimer's Disease |
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The current focus of our work is to provide a better understanding of the roles that microglial telomere shortening and senescence plays in normal aging and in the development of AD. This is a novel area of research in AD, and no previous research has been performed in this area. We hypothesize that telomere shortening occurs in microglia over time and with normal aging. This leads to their senescence and contributes indirectly to neuronal cell death. Our short-term goals are to study telomere length and telomerase activity in rat microglia both in vitro (cells grown in a culture dish) and in vivo (cells living within an organism). Our long-term goals are to study telomere length and telomerase activity in human microglia (from non-demented and AD individuals) in vitro and to over-express telomerase in rat microglia in vitro to determine whether this prevents telomere shortening and senescence in these cells. If telomere shortening in microglia can be delayed or prevented, then this may enable these cells to delay or prevent their entry into senescence. Thus, if senescence can be avoided, microglia should be able to live longer than normal and be able to provide additional support to neurons, thereby slowing their death as well. Therefore, if telomere shortening in microglia can be delayed or prevented, then AD may also be delayed or prevented. |
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Publications |
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Flanary BE, Streit WJ. Progressive telomere shortening occurs in cultured rat microglia, but not astrocytes. Glia. 2004 Jan 1;45(1):75-88. abstract |
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Flanary B. Review of the gerontology literature. J Anti Aging Med. 2003 Spring;6(1):41-3. abstract |
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Van Rhein SL, Flanary BE, Juliano SA. Effects of habitat type and drying on Ascogregarina barretti (Eugregarinida: Lecudinidae) infection in Aedes triseritatus (Diptera: Culicidae). J Med Entomol. 2000 Nov;37(6):950-6. abstract |
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Abstracts Presented at Meetings |
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Honors & Awards |
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Jenny Fortun |
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Advanced Concentration |
Neuroscience |
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Mentor |
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Department |
Neuroscience |
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Enrolled |
August 2000 |
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Lab Room |
L2-164 |
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Lab Phone |
846-0694 |
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Education |
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B.S., Biochemistry |
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Dissertation Research |
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The presence of protein aggregates is associated with various pathological conditions of the nervous system, yet their contribution to disease mechanisms is poorly understood. PMP22 is a hydrophobic, transmembrane, short-lived Schwann cell glycoprotein that forms aggresomes when the proteasome is inhibited or the protein is mutated. Aggresomes are an assembly of protein aggregates that form when the activity of the proteasome is inhibited. While the precise role of PMP22 is unknown, studies demyelinating peripheral neuropathies and this represents one research focus of our lab. Recently, we have shown that in PMP22 neuropathy nerves, the protein has an extended half-life and forms aggresome-like structures that recruit molecular chaperones and lysosomes. In addition, we have demonstrated that Schwann cells have the ability to eliminate aggresomes by a mechanism that is enhanced when autophagy is activated and is largely prevented when autophagy is inhibited. Based on these results, we hypothesized that aggresomes form to concentrate misfolded proteins in a central location in order to increase the degradation efficiency of unwanted proteins. I am interested in the mechanism of aggresome clearance, and the cell-specific differences controlling the dissimilarities in response of distinct cell types to aggresome formation. In addition, I will investigate the factors involved in aggresome formation. The aim of my research is to better understand how the cells respond to misfolded proteins in order to design therapeutic strategies aimed at treating conformational diseases. |
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Publications |
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Fortun J, Dunn WA Jr, Joy S, Li J, Notterpek L. Emerging role for autophagy in the removal of aggresomes in Schwann cells. J Neurosci. 2003 Nov 19;23(33):10672-80. abstract |
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Abstracts Presented at Meetings |
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Notterpek, L., Fortun, J. & Fergurson, T.A. (2002). Aggregation of peripheral myelin protein 22 in the Trembler J neuropathy nerves. Journal of Neurochemistry 81 (Suppl.1), p77. Fortun,
J. & Nottepek, L. (2003). Aggresomes are transient structures in
Schwann cells. Journal of Neurochemistry 85 (suppl.1) p85. Li J., Fortun J., & Notterpek, L. (2003) Impairment of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in Trembler J nerves. Society for Neuroscience meeting, 2003. |
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Honors & Awards |
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Alumni Graduate Fellowship, University of Florida 2003 Bryan W. Robinson Neurological Foundation Grant-in-Aid (competitive), Achievement award, Tallahassee, Florida |
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John D. Herlihy |
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Advanced Concentration |
Neuroscience |
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Mentor |
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Department |
Neuroscience |
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Enrolled |
August 1999 |
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Lab Room |
R3-116 |
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Lab Phone |
392-9239 |
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Education |
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Dissertation Research |
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Molecular Regulation of Human cPLA2 |
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Publications |
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Zhainazarov AB, Doolin R, Herlihy JD, Ache BW. Odor-stimulated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in lobster olfactory receptor cells. J Neurophysiol. 2001 Jun;85(6):2537-44. abstract |
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Abstracts Presented at Meetings |
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Honors & Awards |
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G. Andrew James |
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Advanced Concentration |
Neuroscience; Psychiatry |
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Mentor |
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Department |
Neuroscience |
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Enrolled |
August 2000 |
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Lab Room |
L4-131B |
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Lab Phone |
392-2573 |
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Education |
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B.S., Chemistry; B.S., Psychology; Georgia Institute of Technology |
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Dissertation Research |
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My research uses the WICA (within-condition interregional covariate analysis) method to characterize neural networks of functional connectivity in humans during motor learning (i.e. how the different parts of the brain “talk” to one another, and how this pattern of communication changes with practice). I am modeling networks for both implicit (effortless, passive) and explicit (intentional, active) motor learning, and I am investigating how both forms of learning vary with age. I am supplementing my dissertation research with diffusion tensor imaging to assess the contribution of white-matter tract degradation toward age-related learning deficits. My research also focuses upon new methodologies for data analysis; to this end, I have recently developed a method for analyzing functional neuroimaging data that is completely driven by behavioral measures of learning. |
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Publications |
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Shapira NA, Liu Y, He AG, Bradley MM, Lessig MC, James GA, Stein DJ, Lang PJ, Goodman WK. Brain activation by disgust-inducing pictures in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Biol Psychiatry. 2003 Oct 1;54(7):751-6. abstract |
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He AG, Tan LH, Tang Y, James GA, Wright P, Eckert MA, Fox PT, Liu Y. Modulation of neural connectivity during tongue movement and reading. Hum Brain Mapp. 2003 Mar;18(3):222-32. abstract |
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James GA, Guo W, Liu Y. Imaging in vivo brain-hormone interaction in the control of eating and obesity. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2001 Winter;3(4):617-22. abstract |
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Abstracts Presented at Meetings |
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James, G.A., He, G., Tang, Y. & Liu, Y. (2004). Comparing Patterns of Implicit and Explicit Motor Learning with a Behavior-Driven Functional Connectivity Analysis Method. 10th International Conference on Functional Mapping of the Human Brain (in press). |
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James, G.A., Tang, Y., & Liu, Y. (2003). Comparing two serial response time implicit motor learning designs. Program No. 400.16. 2003 Abstracts Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2003. CD-ROM. |
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James, G.A., Tang, Y., & Liu, Y. (2003). Brain activation by typing movement with an MRI-compatible keyboard [abstract]. Presented at the 9th International Conference on Functional Mapping of the Human Brain, June 19-22, 2003, New York, NY. Available on CD-Rom in Neuroimage, Vol 19, No. 2. |
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James, G.A., He, G., Eckert, M., & Liu, Y. (2003). An MRI-compatible keyboard recording system for functional investigation of complex motor behaviors. Eleventh Scientific Meeting and Exhibition of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. |
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James, G.A., He, G., Miller, A.W., Taeb, Y. & Liu, Y. (2002). MRI of hunger and insula activation during a fasting paradigm. Tenth Scientific Meeting and Exhibition of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. |
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James, G.A.; Leonard, C.M.; Maron, L.; Grudnik, J.; Eckert, M.A.; Mahoney, B.; Ricciuti, N.; DeBose, C.; Kuldau, J.M. Anatomical Risk Factors and Cognition in Schizophrenia. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr., Vol. 27, Program No. 572.14, 2001. |
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Honors & Awards |
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2003 ISMRM Educational Stipend for Students |
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| 2002 ISMRM Educational Stipend for Students | |||
Sami H. Jezzini |
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Advanced Concentration |
Neuroscience |
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Mentor |
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Department |
Neuroscience |
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Enrolled |
August 2000 |
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Lab Room |
Whitney Lab |
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Lab Phone |
(904) 861-4049 |
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Education |
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B.S., Neuroscience, Emory University |
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Dissertation Research |
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Publications |
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Jezzini SH, Hill AA, Kuzyk P, Calabrese RL. A detailed model of intersegmental coordination in the timing network of the leech heartbeat central pattern generator. J Neurophysiol. 2003 Oct 22 [Epub ahead of print] abstract |
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Abstracts Presented at Meetings |
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Honors & Awards |
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Erik Johnson |
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Advanced Concentration |
Neuroscience |
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Mentor |
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Department |
Neuroscience |
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Enrolled |
August 1999 |
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Lab Room |
L4-166 |
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Lab Phone |
392-9405 |
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Education |
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Dissertation Research |
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Publications |
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Fan T, Yang SH, Johnson E, Osteen B, Hayes R, Day AL, Simpkins JW. 17beta-Estradiol extends ischemic thresholds and exerts neuroprotective effects in cerebral subcortex against transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Brain Res. 2003 Dec 12;993(1-2):10-7. abstract |
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Pike BR, Flint J, Dutta S, Johnson E, Wang KK, Hayes RL. Accumulation of non-erythroid alpha II-spectrin and calpain-cleaved alpha II-spectrin breakdown products in cerebrospinal fluid after traumatic brain injury in rats. J Neurochem. 2001 Sep;78(6):1297-306. abstract |
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Abstracts Presented at Meetings |
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Honors & Awards |
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Christopher D. King |
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Advanced Concentration |
Neuroscience |
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Mentor |
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Department |
Neuroscience |
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Enrolled |
August 2001 |
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Lab Room |
D10-10 |
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Lab Phone |
392-3033 |
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Education |
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B.S., Biology, Geneva College |
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Dissertation Research |
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Publications |
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King CD, Devine DP, Vierck CJ, Rodgers J, Yezierski RP. Differential effects of stress on escape and reflex responses to nociceptive thermal stimuli in the rat. Brain Res. 2003 Oct 17;987(2):214-22. abstract |
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Caudle RM, Perez FM, King C, Yu CG, Yezierski RP. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit expression and phosphorylation following excitotoxic spinal cord injury in rats. Neurosci Lett. 2003 Sep 25;349(1):37-40. abstract |
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Abstracts Presented at Meetings |
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Honors & Awards |
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Firas Kobeissy |
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Advanced Concentration |
Neuroscience |
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Mentor |
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Department |
Neuroscience |
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Enrolled |
August 2002 |
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Lab Room |
L5-132 |
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Lab Phone |
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Education |
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B.S., Experimental Sciences, American University of Beirut |
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Dissertation Research |
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Publications |
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Abdelnoor AM, Kobeissy F, Farhat D, Hadi U. Some immunological aspects of patients with rhinitis in Lebanon. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2002 May;24(2):289-301. abstract |
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Abdelnoor AM, Abdelnoor M, Heneine W, Khauli R, Kobeissy F, Mansur S, Malak R, Sharara H. Major histocompatibility complex class I and II antigens frequencies in selected groups of Lebanese. Transplant Proc. 2001 Aug;33(5):2839-40. abstract |
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Abstracts Presented at Meetings |
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Honors & Awards |
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