thesis

Motor learning is crucial for diverse behaviors, yet the neural mechanisms that consolidate the learning remain poorly understood. A recent study (Majumder et al., 2023) found that inhibiting Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in pyramidal tract (PT) neurons, but not Intratelencephalic (IT) neurons, in the Anterior Lateral Motor cortex (ALM) disrupt motor learning. This suggests a cell-type-specific reliance on CaMKII for inducing synaptic plasticity during motor skill acquisition. This project aims to explore how the brain consolidates the acquired motor skill as a long-term memory. We hypothesize that following motor learning, CaMKII in PT, but not IT, cells activates the expression of immediate early genes (IEGs) arc and cfos, which may play a critical role in the storage of motor memories. Understanding the cell-specific roles in the ALM could provide insights into motor memory neural circuitry and diseases.

Biological agents and toxins have been used as weapons offensively as early as 1320 BCE. Modern ability to manipulate and control biological materials has raised concerns as to how wars will be fought in the future. The Geneva Protocol of 1925 and the subsequent Geneva Conventions have clearly determined biological warfare as unethical and illegal due to the devastating effects it has on both combatants and noncombatants. The International Humanitarian Laws, based on the fourth Geneva Convention, are used as guidelines for fighting just and legal wars. Although the use of biological weaponry has been banned for almost a century, government and non-government funded research in this area has not ceased. This highlights the importance of continuing research into the ethics of biological weaponry use according to modern science. After having compared modern biological advancements to these laws, the use of biological weaponry still cannot be justified in war.

In the realm of sports, a domain characterized by skill, competition, and entertainment, the consensus stands firm—cheating is unequivocally wrong. Violations extend beyond the traditional realm of illicit substances like stimulants and steroids to encompass emerging technological advancements, notably gene doping. Gene doping involves the utilization of genetic-altering technology to augment human performance, introducing a new dimension to the ethical discourse surrounding sports. Despite its designation as a banned practice by numerous sports agencies, there are scenarios where the deployment of this technology warrants consideration and even ethical approval. This analysis delves into the prospects of gene doping, elucidates fundamental sports principles like fairness and health from the “spirit of the sport”, presents a multifaceted ethical argument defending the judicious use of gene technology in these areas of contention, and provides a solution in the form of a divisional regulation to alleviate the problem of increased administration of genetic enhancement.

This thesis delves into the Fontan cardiovascular procedure, a specialized intervention for congenital heart defects. Through historical analysis, preparatory protocols, statistical data, and long-term effects, this paper offers a comprehensive examination of this surgical procedure. It traces its origins, breakthroughs, and milestones, from diagnosis to detailed planning and execution. With approximately 50,000 worldwide cases, statistical analysis explores success rates and demographics. Recognizing its lifelong impact, the research examines postoperative complications, quality of life, and ongoing healthcare needs. This comprehensive scrutiny extends to long-term implications. Additionally, there is a supplementing website conveniently disseminating insights and factual information about the Fontan procedure, fostering greater understanding and awareness among healthcare professionals and the broader community.

Ever since the invention of the wheel, humans have been trying to find faster and more efficient modes of transportation. The evolution from the first horse-drawn carriages to the currently popular electric vehicles marks a big improvement in speed and reliability. Today, modern society relies heavily on cars, the most popular mode of transportation. There are two main classes of automobiles: fossil fuel (gasoline and diesel) and electric. Fossil fuel cars are known for their carbon inefficiency, which leads to large amounts of greenhouse gases being emitted into the Earth’s atmosphere. In recent years, electric vehicles have gained limited popularity and are reported to produce fewer carbon emissions. However, the big question is whether or not they are actually more carbon efficient, especially when one considers the production both the interior and exteriors car components and the specialized batteries required to power the vehicles.

Oxidative stress is caused by excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the cell and risks the onset of diseases in humans. Antioxidant enzymes prevent oxidative stress through biochemically sensitive thiol (-SH) groups in cysteines that form oxidative post-translational modifications (OxiPTMs) to chemically neutralize ROS. Chemical probes detect specific OxiPTMs at cysteine regulatory nodes, but there is a lack of well-validated model proteins available for probe testing. PARK7 (DJ-1), PRDX6, and GPx3 are three antioxidant enzymes containing chemically active cysteines that we aim to develop as model proteins. Here, we confirmed differential reactivities of the two cysteines within human peroxiredoxin 6 (HsPRDX6) by substituting each cysteine with alanine or serine and comparing the OxiPTMs formed in response to oxidation using Western blotting. Future investigation of differential reactivities of cysteines within PARK7 and GPx3 will contribute to the better understanding of cysteine’s biological roles and verify their suitability as model proteins.

Elyrion's Harmony' is a 2D side-scrolling game in the fantasy genre. It takes place on the planet Elyrion. Elyrion is home to multiple countries, including Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. The player plays as Lyra, a citizen of Earth who witnesses her village's destruction by the malevolent sorcerer, Malachor. Seeking to tear the world asunder, Malachor's chaos disrupts the once-harmonious planet. As Lyra, players navigate diverse landscapes and battle elemental challenges to save her world.

Dental procedures are known to cause fear and anxiety in patients of all ages worldwide. The characteristics of sharp dental instruments and the sound of the handpiece can be intimidating for everyone. Moreover, for children and patients with special healthcare needs (SHCNs) who don’t have the cognitive ability to process the reality of the situation, a dental visit can elicit exacerbated aggressive behavior. Therefore, their uncooperative behavior can turn dental treatments into dangerous and sometimes impossible situations. To manage this behavior, the American Dental Association provides Behavior Management Techniques (BMTs) and guidelines, including the Protective Stabilization technique. The method restricts patient physical movements by human force or mechanical devices. Although concerns about its implementation have been recorded, enough evidence is presented in this paper about the benefits of PS as a BMT to justify its use in dental procedures in children and adults with SHCNs.

Este estudio examina cómo las obras literarias y las figuras públicas de Victorina Durán y Gloria Fuertes han influido significativamente en discurso sobre el género, la sexualidad e la identidad queer en España. El estudio enfatiza particularmente los desafíos históricos y socioculturales que enfrentan estas autoras y su papel pionero en la articulación de la visibilidad y los derechos de las lesbianas. La tesis analiza las experiencias queer de estas dos mujeres en el contexto de la Segunda República, la dictadura de Francisco Franco y La Movida Madrileña. También aborda el impacto que tuvo su literatura en la comunidad queer.

Peters’s rock agama, Agama picticauda, is a West African lizard first observed in South Florida in 1975. It has since spread through much of the state and into southernmost Georgia. To better understand the potential spread of this invasive species in the southeastern US, I used Maxent species distribution models with native and non-native occurrences for A. picticauda with current and future bioclimatic variables. The models suggest that by 2100, the species could spread through all of Florida, much of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, and southern parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Virginia.