MULTILINGUALISM VS BILINGUALISM: THE PROTECTIVE PLACE OF LANGUAGE AGAINST THE EARLY ONSET OF DEMENTIA

Studies have shown that early bilingualism produces a 4.1 year delay in the onset of Dementia which is likely due to ‘cognitive reserve’, a situation where speaking multiple languages strengthens the brain’s neural networks causing less cognitive decline. However, emerging research shows that multilingualism (proficiency in three or four languages) provides stronger protection. This research aims to identify the factors that guarantee the effectiveness of multilingualism versus bilingualism in offering protection against Dementia. Data will be collected from a clinic serving a wide range of immigrant communities focusing on diagnosis, fluency levels, and naming ability of each speaker. The findings would contribute to a deeper understanding of some of the factors that ensure the effectiveness of the cognitive resilience of multilingualism vs bilingualism against dementia

Star Diaries

This exhibit invites viewers to engage their imagination and wonder about the mysteries of outer space. The installation features sculpted planets displayed on a wall, accompanied by pedestals showcasing detailed terrains of these fictional worlds, each with descriptions of their unique characteristics. Inspired by the vastness of the sky, as well as books and films about space exploration, this project seeks to evoke curiosity about what lies beyond our reach. My research focuses on sculpting techniques and terrain modeling using accessible materials, as well as identifying key planetary features that make a world feel recognizable yet otherworldly. Works by Stanisław Lem, games like No Man’s Sky, and films such as Star Wars and Stargate have significantly influenced my creative vision, particularly in world-building and procedural design. To construct these planets, I will use plaster to create large-scale, half-sphere models mounted on the wall, drawing viewers’ attention as if they were gazing at celestial bodies. Interviews and external resources have helped me refine my approach to scale and presentation, ensuring the exhibit is both immersive and thought-provoking. Additionally, augmented reality (AR) will provide an interactive layer, offering deeper insights into each planet’s surface and composition. This exhibit is designed to spark curiosity and inspire a sense of wonder, encouraging visitors to contemplate the possibilities of space exploration. By engaging with these fictional worlds, I hope to reignite the childlike sense of awe that comes from looking up at the stars and imagining the unknown

Investigating the role of the extracellular scl gene family in TDP-43-mediated neurotoxicity in C. elegans

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of neurons controlling voluntary muscles, leading to muscle weakness, atrophy, and paralysis. In ALS, TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) forms abnormal aggregates in the cytoplasm of neurons, which may spread in a prion-like manner. Manipulating extracellular matrix components may lead to inhibition of this transmission. To investigate TDP-43-related neurotoxicity, we use the nematode C. elegans, which is amenable to genetic manipulation and has a simple nervous system. Ribosome profiling of young adult C. elegans expressing human TDP-43 pan-neuronally and wild-type animals identified differentially translated genes in the scl gene family, with some members upregulated over 50 fold in TDP-43 transgenic animals. These genes are associated with longevity, stress resistance, and are expressed in the extracellular matrix. Genetic crosses were performed to introduce specific scl gene deletions into the TDP-43 transgenic line. To evaluate the effects of these deletions on TDP-43 neurotoxicity, behavioral assays were conducted to monitor movement. In the thrashing assay, worms are placed in a buffer, and their body bends (thrashes) are counted over 30 seconds. We hypothesize that deleting scl gene members will alleviate motor neuron deficits, increasing the thrashing rate of TDP-43 animals. Wild-type C. elegans exhibit approximately 50 thrashes, while TDP-43 transgenic animals average 10 thrashes. Preliminary data indicates that deletion of the scl-9 gene significantly improves the thrashing rate of TDP-43 animals, doubling the average number of body bends. Given that scl genes share homology with human PI16, an inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), which is critical for extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, our study suggests that scl gene deletions could impact TDP-43 transmission by altering the ECM environment. MMP-2 facilitates the breakdown of ECM components and the deletion of its inhibitor, PI16 orthologs, likely enhances MMP-2 activity. This increased activity alters the ECM potentially reducing transmission of TDP-43 and its associated toxicity. Thus, remodeling ECM components, such as those altered by scl gene expression, may offer a therapeutic approach to attenuate TDP-43 neurotoxicity

Desde Niña

This project is a collection of short stories from diverse women and gender non-binary individuals, exploring themes of adolescence, change, and vulnerability. These stories highlight the experiences of young and adult women with varying backgrounds and upbringings. I aim to create a platform where women can share their stories through self-reflection, memory, and history. These stories will be organized through shared themes in a chapter format and will be designed creatively through photography, typography, and other visual design. To inform my research I interviewed three different individuals with expertise in the areas of design, writing, and human psychology. I interviewed a prior student who shared a similar goal of book creation, a current MFA student and Loyola University alumni in creative/fiction writing, and a current psychology student from NEIU. Their insights helped me refine my project goals and led me to a further understanding of how to strengthen my approach and execution while maintaining the writer’s integrity, effectiveness in storytelling, and considerations for thoughtful design execution. My creative process has included making an organizational foundation for logistics, and mood boards, brainstorming, and gathering supplies for the printing and installation of my project. My goal is to reach a wide audience, however, I recognize that a large part of my audience will be women. This project aims to foster an understanding between people, regardless of gender or identity, with an emphasis that anyone can gain something from diverse personal narratives. Readers will be able to gain personal connections, insights into other cultures or unique experiences, and self-reflection to carry into the future. To deepen engagement, I will be featuring 4-5 individuals and interviewing the subjects for further research to give each person their own featured profile. Providing a detailed account of the 4-5 individuals will allow the audience to better understand and connect with their story

A History of State Documents Classifications

This paper identifies twenty-seven state documents classification schemes. To fully understand how and why so many state documents classifications were created, we need to examine the history of classification systems in the United States, as well as trends in library history and their relationships with external events. This paper divides this history into three eras: the birth of American library science, wartime, and, finally, the state documents era, with special attention paid to the events of the 1970s and beyond

Niyongabo, Protais

Niyongabo went to church on Sunday, April 29th, 1972 just as he did every Sunday with his family. As he and his family of 9 exited Sunday service, they could hear helicopters in the next commune. Niyongabo explained that people in his community were not accustomed to hearing helicopters so close to their homes and everyone became very intrigued as to what was happening. Niyongabo went home only to hear screams from the parishioners exiting the second mass session. Then, the following day, a group of people ran toward him and his father, screaming at them to run for their lives. They looked up to see that the ruling party’s house in their community was on fire. Niyongabo said the violence and house burning continued to engulf his community.https://neiudc.neiu.edu/burundi-oral-histories/1041/thumbnail.jp

Development of a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry Method for Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Arsenoplatin Compounds

Arsenoplatin compounds, dual-pharmacophore anticancer agents containing platinum and arsenic pharmacophores, were developed due to the synergy between FDA-approved drugs cisplatin and arsenic trioxide in various cancer cell lines. These compounds have demonstrated potent in vitro activity, particularly in leukemia, breast, and ovarian cancer cell lines, as confirmed by the National Cancer Institute\u27s Developmental Therapeutic Program. Due to upcoming in vivo studies, it is essential to ensure the purity and stability of arsenoplatins in physiological solutions. The High-Performance Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS) method was developed to separate, identify, and quantify arsenoplatin compounds and their degradation products. An initial HPLC method was tested using ZORBAX Eclipse XBD-C18 4.6x100mm,3.5µm column as stationary phase and PBS (Phosphate Buffered Saline) solution (99.8%) and 1,2-hexandiole (0.2%) as the mobile phase, as PBS is commonly used in drug formulations for efficacy studies in vivo. However, since PBS was incompatible with the mass spectrometer due to phosphate salts being non-volatile, a new method was developed using ammonium acetate (96%) and methanol (4%) as the mobile phase and ZORBAX Eclipse XBD-C18 4.6x100mm,3.5µm column as stationary phase to detect arsenoplatins by ESI-MS (electrospray ionization mass spectrometry). This modified HPLC-MS method effectively separates and detects arsenoplatins and their degradation products. All arsenoplatins analyzed by ESI-MS exhibited distinctive cluster ions in their mass spectra due to five naturally occurring platinum isotopes. For all arsenoplatins, molecular ions are observed in negative mode. Based on the m/z values, the fragmentation pattern for arsenoplatins is proposed. The newly developed HPLC-MS method will be validated according to ICH (The International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use) and FDA guidelines. It will ensure accurate qualitative and quantitative analysis of arsenoplatin compounds and their degradation products, which is critical for maintaining arsenoplatins efficacy and safety in pharmaceutical formulations

Use of neuronal mitochondrial isolation to assess NDUFS4 levels in GABAergic neuron

GABAergic neurons play a crucial role in the functioning of the central nervous system. GABAergic neurons balance excitation and inhibition in the brain and require proper mitochondrial function to sustain neural circuitry. The NDUFS4 protein is one of the 45 subunits in mitochondrial Complex I of the electron transport chain (ETC). The ETC is responsible for energy production, yet in mice deletion of the NDUFS4 subunit in the brain is sufficient to impair neural control and disrupt cognitive and motor function. More specifically, studies have shown that selective deletion of NDUFS4 restricted to GABAergic neurons causes impaired inhibitory control and widespread neuronal dysfunction resulting in seizures in mice. However, the mechanisms that allow NDUFS4 deletion to alter mitochondrial function in GABAergic neurons are unclear. One possibility is that the absence of NDUFS4 causes compensatory changes in the protein structure of mitochondrial Complex I or in other mitochondrial compartments. By using novel mitochondrial isolation techniques from the brain, the project aims to compare mitochondrial protein composition from GABAergic neurons in the presence and absence of NDUFS4. The study will advance our understanding of mitochondria in GABAergic neurons and potentially lead to the development of biomarkers, targeted therapies, and personalized treatments for mitochondrial diseases

Exploring various factors affecting Sleep Quality among students with disabilities: A focus on Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) students.

Exploring various factors affecting Sleep Quality among students with disabilities: A focus on Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) students. Purpose/Aim: Sleep is an essential component of physical and mental health; good sleep improves overall brain performance and mood. Not getting enough good quality sleep raises the risk of concern of getting many diseases and disorders. Students who have any form of disabilities frequently face poor sleep quality due to academic pressures, lifestyle habits, and other stressors. It can impact their sleep health in many different ways, which in turn can affect their academic performance and overall well-being. This study explored how different factors can affect the sleep quality and influences the overall academic performance among this underserved population. Methods: Survey questionnaire was designed to assess the sleep quality by using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) with some additional questions on students\u27 demographic and to identify various factors affecting the sleep quality. For data analysis we used descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Results: This study provides different associations among various factors that are involved in poor sleep quality of the students with disability. Preliminary findings based on prior literature provides that neurodivergent students may experience poor sleep quality due to academic stressors, and other factors and may affect their overall academic performance. Implications: The findings from this study gives evidence-based suggestions for improving sleep-related support services in academic settings, as well as guiding future research and interventions