Dopamine Transporter Scan (DaTscan) for Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease

The purpose of this project is to help provide clinical information for Parkinson’s disease (PD) diagnosis. The project will further explore the advantages of Dopamine Transporter Scan (DaTscan) in Nuclear Medicine as a diagnostic tool for the evaluation of Parkinson’s disease. Nuclear Medicine is a specialized area of radiology that uses radioactive pharmaceuticals to examine organ function and to diagnose and/or treat conditions or diseases. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves that causes uncontrollable movements that worsen overtime. Parkinsonian Syndromes such as Parkinson’s disease are difficult to accurately diagnose and distinguish from other neurological processes diseases. The DaTscan images demonstrate changes in brain chemistry to differentiate various Parkinsonism syndromes. With the use of DaTscan, physicians\u27 ability to confirm a Parkinson’s diagnosis is greatly improved. Accurately diagnosing Parkinson’s disease is important because treatments can help manage symptoms and early intervention can prevent unnecessary procedures and medication. Medications can improve day-to-day function. In cases where medication does not provide a sustained benefit or has significant side effects, treatments like deep brain stimulation result in improved quality of life.https://digitalcommons.misericordia.edu/medimg_seniorposters/1037/thumbnail.jp

Characterisation of the hyperpolarisation activated chloride current in rat superior cervical ganglion neurons

Although the cation currents that are found in rat superior cervical ganglia (SCG) neurons have been extensively studied and characterised, the chloride conductances in these neurons have not. The aim of the experiments presented here was to characterise a number of features of the hyperpolarisation activated current that is present in rat SCG neurons. The current was found to activate at potentials hyperpolarised to -20mV in a time and voltage dependent manner. Current activation was inwardly rectifying. Inactivation was not observed and the activation kinetics were best described by two exponential functions. The current was unaffected by changes in the external potassium and/or sodium concentrations and was not blocked by either 10mM barium or caesium. The reversal potential, however, was approximately 0mV which agreed with the chloride equilibrium potential. The hyperpolarisation activated current was therefore carried by chloride ions and was designated IC1IR The halide selectivity sequence of IC1IR was Cl > Br > I. IC1IR was blocked in a voltage dependant manner by cadmium, zinc and the organic chloride channel blockers; DIDS, 9AC and NPPB. IC1IR was not, however, affected by the application of SITS or niflumic acid. Acidification and alkalisation of the external medium resulted in a voltage dependent increase and decrease in the amplitude of IC1JR respectively. In addition, was found to be sensitive to external hypotonicity. The properties of Ic1IR described are almost identical to those of ClC-2 and mRNA for ClC-2 was found to be expressed in rat SCG neurons by RT-PCR. It therefore seems very likely that the ClC-2 chloride channel underlies IC1IR in these cells

Constraining diagenetic timings, processes and reservoir quality in igneous-affected basins

As the demand for hydrocarbons increases, more complex, non-conventional plays have been targeted in volcanic margin settings. Consequently, it is important to understand the role igneous rocks have in affecting hydrocarbon systems. This is particularly relevant to the Rosebank Field, offshore UK Continental Shelf, North Atlantic. The field was discovered in 2004 with the 213/27-1z well and encountered Palaeogene volcanic rocks interbedded with siliciclastic and volcaniclastic rocks, representing a brand new play type. Three appraisal wells were drilled and encountered good quality light oil (37° API) with drill steam tests achieving ~ 6000 STB per day (Duncan et al., 2009). Initially four companies had a stake in the field; Chevron (40%), Statoil (30%), OMV (20%) and Dong (10%) however in 2011, OMV bought out Statoil leaving them with a 50% stake. Chevron remain the operators. The importance of volcaniclastic sediments within these sequences has previously been overlooked and so a better understanding of how these rocks behave during burial is essential. This research quantitatively characterises and assesses the reservoir potential of a range of volcaniclastic and siliciclastic sedimentary rocks within such basins. The Rosebank Field comprises a range of volcaniclastic lithic arenites and lava flows interbedded with sublithic arenites and quartz arenites. However samples could only be taken from limited the limited cores. This made interpreting 3D architecture difficult and therefore it was decided that a onshore analogue was required. The Staffa Formation of the Palaeogene Mull Lava Field, NW Scotland, provides an excellent analogue to the Rosebank Field within the Faroe-Shetland Basin. It comprises basaltic lava flows interbedded with a variety of volcaniclastic and sedimentary rocks. A range of rock types occur within the Staffa Formation, including vent-proximal pyroclastic rocks, such as massive scoria rich tuffs to re-worked volcaniclastic lithic arenites to vent-distal facies where the siliciclastic component begins to dominate, such as quartz arenites. The Staffa Formation has therefore, been compared and contrasted to the Rosebank rocks to better understand composition, burial history and reservoir potential. Detailed characterisation of the volcaniclastic rocks has been undertaken using a variety of analytical techniques (optical microscopy, SEM and XRD), and demonstrates that volcanic material in potential reservoir rocks may significantly reduce their reservoir quality. Proximal pyroclastic rocks, which can have reasonably good porosity and permeability at the surface, degrade to non-reservoir values at shallow depths (<1km), as reactive volcanic components alter to both grain-coating and pore-filling clays during diagenesis. This process dominates diagenesis meaning that it only requires small proportions of volcanic material to be incorporated within a sediment to destroy its porosity. In some cases, alteration is so severe that the original rock textures and clast outlines are lost, making the rock difficult to identify. Several generations of pore-filling and grain-coating clays, formed from the alteration of volcanic glass, including gel and fibrous palagonite, Fe-smectite and chlorite, have been identified in the volcaniclastic rocks samples from both the Rosebank core and the Staffa Formation. The nature of the volcanic material plays an important role in a rock’s ability to retain reservoir quality. Factors such as the composition, shape and grain size of volcanic clasts in these rocks affect how the sediment behaved during diagenesis. Spatter bombs and scoria, for example, react differently clasts derived from lava. Labile volcanic ash shards that underwent minimal surface reworking altered to fibrous clay, and were then flattened and moulded around framework grains during diagenesis and burial. This reduced the local porosity and permeability in the rocks. Clay alteration of weathered basaltic clasts resulted in the development of pseudomorph grains that preserved the original grain structure and had only a minimal effect on surrounding pore throats. Clay formation in these rocks was extremely heterogeneous and highly dependent on the immediate grain-scale mineralogy. Clay phases developed during early diagenetic stages blocked or altered later fluid pathways, which led to an extremely patchy diagenetic mineralogy. Rocks inferred to be located at more distal locations from the vent have higher proportions of siliciclastic components and somewhat simpler paragenetic sequences that are characterised by carbonate and silicic cements and minimal authigenic clays. Oxygen and hydrogen isotopic data provide constraints on pore water chemistry and temperatures during diagenesis. Together, these data have been used to determine the diagenetic histories of the Rosebank Field and Staffa Formation, and enabled the development of a conceptual model to determine the threshold at which volcaniclastic rocks are no longer viable as petroleum reservoir rocks. The model shows that volcaniclastic rocks containing more than 10% volcanic clasts are likely to have very poor reservoir quality at depth. However, this is dependent on a number of factors such as clast size, clast type, depositional setting, sorting, pore water composition and timing. These data will be of use in the assessment of potential plays in volcanic rifted margins worldwide

Isokinetic Knee and Hip Torque in NCAA Division I Female Soccer Athletes

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of isokinetic knee and hip torque to various physiological characteristics and soccer-specific variables, such as kick velocity (KV) and body fat percentage (BF%) specifically in female collegiate soccer players. METHODS: Anthropometric data was collected on 22 division I female soccer players. Maximum strength, explosive lower body power, agility, acceleration, speed, and aerobic power were tested. Anthropometric data was collected on age, height, weight, and body composition. Body composition was assessed using the Jackson-Pollock 3- Site Skinfold Formula procedure using the Lange skinfold calipers. A one repetition max (1-RM) squat parallel test was be used to determine the maximum lower body strength of the athlete. Lower body explosive power (VJ) was measured using a Vertec vertical jump device. A 40 yard dash was measured to evaluate acceleration and 100 meter sprint was used to determine speed. VO2Max was estimated with a 2 mile test and agility was tested using the Illinois Agility Test. Kicking Velocity (KV) was determined using the Speed Trac radar gun. The isokinetic peak torque during knee extension/flexion in the sitting position at 60, 180, and 240 degrees/second, and torque during hip flexion and extension in the standing position at 60, 180, and 240 degrees/second were measured with the Biodex isokinetic dynamometer. RESULTS: Correlation coefficients were calculated for all variables by utilizing a correlation matrix from raw scores for both the pre and post season data. Statistical analysis indicated significant relationships exist. Knee torque during extension was highly correlated with hip flexion (r=.81) and hip extension (r=.87). A correlation was found between knee torque during extension and KV (r=0.89), as well as vertical jump and KV (r=0.91). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that significant relationships do exist between isokinetic hip and knee torque and soccer-specific variables, and that hip and knee torque is correlated in soccer athletes, which is similar to previous research (1,2,3). However, one cannot interpret this to mean a cause and effect relationship. Additionally, this research demonstrates a need for further research regarding hamstring to quadriceps strength ratio. Our Biodex data suggests hamstring strength is half that of quadriceps strength. This has an important implication for strength coaches in conditioning athletes for injury prevention

Deaf Inclusion and Accessibility in the Dance Field

Over the past ten years, the dance field in the United States has shifted towards practicing diversity and inclusion. However, there are still underrepresented groups in dance, such as the Deaf community. There is a current lack of pedagogical content to help dance teachers and choreographers be inclusive to Deaf dancers. This research addresses the gap by discussing issues and access for Deaf and hard-of-hearing (HOH) dancers in the dance classroom and on stage. To do so, I present a literature review and analysis of current scholarship with a goal of bringing awareness to the current lack of accessibility to dance classes for Deaf dancers and promoting dance instructors and choreographers to be more inclusive in their teaching styles. To begin, the disability and culture of deafness is discussed. Since the Deaf community does not see deafness as a disadvantage but rather as a cultural experience, it is important to consider their views on deafness and their culture’s representation. Then, I focus on pedagogical efforts in the dance field and on the incorporation of American Sign Language (ASL) into dance choreography. When ASL and dance are viewed as two movement-based expressions, the two can be combined in creative ways. For the future, I would like to see an increase of accessibility in dance classrooms for Deaf dancers. This research covers strategies that allow dance teachers to plan classes and choreography with more inclusion and lays the foundation for future research

The impact of vaccination on gender equity: conceptual framework and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine case study.

BACKGROUND: Although the beneficial effects of vaccines on equity by socioeconomic status and geography are increasingly well-documented, little has been done to extend these analyses to examine the linkage between vaccination and gender equity. In this paper, evidence from the published literature is used to develop a conceptual framework demonstrating the potential impact of vaccination on measures of gender equity. This framework is then applied to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in three countries with different economic and disease burden profiles to establish a proof of concept in a variety of contexts. METHODS: We conducted a literature review examining evidence on the linkage between health outcomes and dimensions of gender equity. We utilized the Papillomavirus Rapid Interface for Modelling and Economics (PRIME) model to estimate cervical cancer incidence and deaths due to HPV types 16/18 by age in each country. We estimated labor force participation and fertility effects from improvements in health, and converted these into inputs consistent with those used to calculate the United Nations Gender Inequality Index to assess gender equity. RESULTS: In our case study, we found that HPV vaccination among girls could help narrow socioeconomic gender disparities by quantifying the main pathways by which HPV vaccination improves health, which enables improvement in gender equity indicators such as labor force participation and maternal mortality ratios. While these improvements are small when averaged over the entire population, the components measured - labor force participation and maternal mortality ratio - account for 50% of the index scores. CONCLUSIONS: This proof of concept model is a starting point to inform future health and economic analyses that might incorporate the impact of gender equity as an additional impact of vaccination in improving the health and well-being of the population

The Cosmological Connections to Rock Art In the Great Basic and California

This project examines the deeper cultural and cosmological meanings of the rock art found in California and the Great Basin Area by analyzing the art of the Chumash tribe, located in Southern coastal California, and the Fremont culture, located in the Great Basin area of central Utah. There is an exploration of rock art symbols with their religious and ecological connections and a comparative examination of motifs and meanings between the two cultures