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Midbrain Glutamatergic and GABAergic Mechanisms Modulating the Acoustic Startle Reflex
No full textSensorimotor gating is a pre-attentive mechanism by which the brain filters out irrelevant stimuli to produce appropriate motor responses. Abnormal sensorimotor gating is observed in several neuropsychiatric conditions, resulting in the inability to think clearly, regulate emotions, make decisions, and produce adaptive behavioral responses. Sensorimotor gating is reliably measured by the translational cross-species functional assay called prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle reflex task. PPI indicates an individual’s ability to suppress the startle reflex in response to an intense stimulus (pulse) when preceded by a weak stimulus (prepulse). PPI deficits can occur before the onset of many other major symptoms of neuropsychiatric disorders, making it a robust diagnostic and therapeutic screening tool. However, although the reversal of PPI deficits is routinely used for pre-clinical antipsychotic drug screening, the cellular and circuit-level mechanisms of PPI remain largely unknown. Consequently, common antipsychotics show inconsistent effects on PPI and other symptoms in affected individuals, highlighting a crucial knowledge gap. Neural circuitry underlying PPI is highly conserved across species enabling the use of animal models to uncover circuit dynamics and identify potential therapeutic targets for human populations. Therefore, characterizing the neural circuitry underlying sensorimotor gating will aid the identification of novel therapeutic targets for neuropsychiatric disorders.
Limbic cortico-striatal-pallido-pontine (CSPP) regions serve critical roles in sensorimotor gating. Specifically, the caudal pontine reticular nucleus (PnC), is central to startle behavior as it contains giant glutamatergic neurons that mediate the startle. Inputs into PnC originate from diverse regions, including the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg). Lesion studies have confirmed the necessity of PPTg in PPI and the modulation of startle. The PPTg contains three distinct neuron populations: cholinergic, glutamatergic, and GABAergic; recent investigations using chemogenetic and chemical lesions ruled out the influence of PPTg cholinergic neurons during PPI. However, the contribution of specific PPTg neurons, namely glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons, is still ill-defined.
Therefore, the dissertation aims to investigate PPTg glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in the context of sensorimotor gating by 1) determining how these neuronal populations directly innervate the PnC, 2) characterizing their function during startle and PPI, 3) identifying subpopulations of behaviorally-relevant neurons with high spatiotemporal resolution in the PPTg, and 4) examining the influence of 5HT1A receptor binding, a disease-relevant modulator, on the spontaneous activity of PPTg neurons.
I used wildtype and transgenic mouse models combined with viral tracer injections and optogenetic tools to identify innervation patterns and manipulate PPTg GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons during startle and PPI. My results revealed that both glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons of the PPTg directly innervate the PnC. Moreover, I found that PPTg glutamatergic neurons provide an excitatory tone during startle modulation and that PPTg GABAergic neurons play a key role in providing an inhibitory drive during sensorimotor gating. Additionally, I identified subsets of neurons in the PPTg that are active during startle and PPI, confirming the significance of inhibitory PPTg cells during sensorimotor gating. Lastly, I found that 5HT1A receptors are found in abundance within the PPTg and activation of these receptors alters firing patterns of PPTg neurons. Altogether, these findings provide novel information about sensorimotor gating circuitry, the modulation of startle and the induction of PPI. As such, these revelations could inform therapeutic approaches to rescuing sensorimotor gating deficits in patients that are unresponsive to current treatments.Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)2026-02-0
RED HOUSING: REVITALIZING PUBLIC HOUSING FROM ISOLATION
No full textThe public housing program in the United States was created in the 1930’s during the Great Depression to help struggling Americans. The program served two main purposes, providing affordable housing for people who were financially struggling and a way to create jobs and stimulate economic growth through the construction of new homes (McCarthy, 2014). The program was initially operated entirely by the federal government and local housing authorities. The public housing program has endured decades of push back and budget cuts, racial and financial segregation but the program still stands. Today, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s own data there's around 886,235 public housing units in the United States. The demand for public housing significantly outweighs the program's current capacity. This presents an issue, as housing affordability gets worse alongside Americans facing economic hardships. These economic hardships take the shape of rising home prices and rents, with half of all renters struggling to afford rent (Airgood-Obrycki, et al, 2024). American capitalism has turned privately owned housing into a commodity where profit is the highest priority. There is a need for more affordable housing in the United States. Can public housing play a role in solving the unaffordability crisis? There’s already a foundation for a broad sweeping program in place with the current public housing system. Also, public housing has the opportunity to be the antithesis of for-profit housing. Privately-owned for-profit housing is characterized as highly individualistic and shortsighted while public housing could embody collectivism and longevity. This thesis will look into how the terms collectivism and longevity can shape the architectural understanding of public housing. This thesis offers a critique of the current for-profit housing system, its inherent contradictions, and the intentional hindering of the public housing program in the United States. Through historical analysis this thesis seeks to strengthen and expand upon the current public housing system.Master of Architecture (MArch
EFFECTS OF LEAF HERBIVORY ON FLORAL TRAIT CORRELATIONS AND SCENT COMPOSITION IN ASCLEPIAS SYRIACA
No full textThis is the data (CSV file), R script, and a README file. These were used to produce all results in the associated manuscript. The README file provides an explanation of all data in the CSV file.Flowering plants attract pollinators via traits such as floral scent and morphology, which are often influenced by other interactions like herbivory. However, the effects of herbivory on floral traits may not be consistent across traits, resulting in a breakdown of honest signaling between traits and rewards. We investigated how herbivory affects floral scent and morphology, and alters correlations between traits. In a natural community, we simulated herbivory seven days before flowering on eight Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) plants by removing half of their foliar tissue and applying a jasmonic acid solution; eight additional plants received a control spray with solvent only and no damage. After treatments, we collected floral volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions (i.e., scent) and measured five floral morphological traits on all plants. We found that simulated herbivory significantly altered VOC composition. Additionally, herbivory increased flower diameter and hood width while decreasing hood height, but had no effect on inflorescence size, measured as flower number or dry mass. Notably, we found that simulated herbivory led to significantly stronger correlations in floral traits, including both flower morphology-VOC correlations and VOC-VOC correlations. This study demonstrates that herbivory induces changes in floral morphological traits and VOC emissions and increases correlations between floral traits. These findings highlight how herbivory can interfere with the floral traits that plants use to signal their pollination partners.This research was funded by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF 209 1451512; 1938059), United States Department of Agriculture/Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension (Multi-state Hatch) NE2001, a Spaulding-Smith Fellowship, a Predissertation and a Dissertation Research Grant from the UMass Graduate School and a Research Grant from the Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Programs at UMass. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of any funding agency.N
Enhancing Veteran Recovery: A Quality Improvement Initiative on Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Substance Use Disorders
No full textBackground/Purpose: Substance-use disorders (SUDs) present significant challenges for veterans, often co-occurring with mental health conditions such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been shown to improve emotional regulation, reduce stress, and support long-term recovery in individuals with SUDs. This Quality Improvement (QI) project aimed to assess and enhance existing mindfulness interventions for veterans undergoing inpatient rehabilitation, using participant feedback to optimize program engagement and effectiveness.
Methods: Over an eight-week period, 10 veterans participated in weekly mindfulness sessions and completed qualitative surveys assessing their experiences, engagement, and perceived benefits. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key themes and guide program adjustments. Ethical considerations included IRB approval, HIPAA compliance, and de-identification of responses to ensure confidentiality.
Results: Participants reported significant benefits from the mindfulness sessions, including improved emotional regulation (80%), stress reduction (90%), and increased self-awareness (70%) by the program’s conclusion. Themes identified in the analysis included the positive impact of mindfulness on cravings and emotional regulation, as well as challenges related to session format and physical discomfort. Suggested program improvements included incorporating movement-based mindfulness practices, shorter or more flexible session durations, and additional resources for maintaining mindfulness post-discharge.
Conclusion: Findings from this QI project underscores the effectiveness of MBIs in supporting veterans’ recovery from SUDs. Tailoring interventions to veterans' unique challenges, such as PTSD and chronic pain, enhances engagement and overall program effectiveness. Future directions should focus on integrating movement-based practices, institutionalizing facilitator training, and developing post-discharge mindfulness resources to sustain long-term benefits.
Keywords: mindfulness-based interventions, veterans, substance-use disorders, inpatient rehabilitation, quality improvementDoctor of Nursing Practice, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP
Military sexual trauma and gynecologic disorders amongst reproductive-aged Veterans
No full textMilitary sexual trauma (MST) is experienced by at least 1 in 3 women Veterans. MST is associated with adverse consequences, including both mental and physical. A potential impact of MST on gynecological health has been proposed, but few studies exist to evaluate this hypothesis. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the association between MST and gynecological conditions among reproductive-aged Veterans receiving prenatal care within the Veterans Health Administration (VA). The Center for Maternal & Infant Outcomes Research in Translation (COMFORT) is a mixed methods study conducted across 16 VA facilities nationwide. We identified prevalent gynecologic conditions using ICD-10 codes in the VA electronic health record. Military sexual harassment and military sexual assault were determined from an adapted version of the VA universal MST screening questions asked during the prenatal interview and used to classify. history of experiencing MST (yes/no). The association of MST with gynecologic conditions was evaluated in multivariable logistic regression models, adjusting for potential confounders. Among COMFORT participants (n=1324), 709 (55%) reported ever experiencing MST. A higher prevalence of gynecologic conditions was observed among those who experienced MST (n=258, 19.5%) compared to 14.6% of those who had not experienced MST (p=0.05). Higher prevalence of gynecologic disease among those with MST vs. no MST was observed in multivariable models, as well (aOR – 1.7; 95% CI, 1.3-2.3;. Our study suggests that MST is associated with gynecologic disorders. Further research should focus on examining these associations in a cohort of non-perinatal women in both rural and urban environments as well as examining gynecologic conditions separately instead of combined, as well as treatment for MST and diagnosis outside of the VA.Master of Science (M.S.
Education on and Screening for Secondary Hypertension: A Quality Improvement Project
No full textSecondary hypertension is a type of hypertension where blood pressure is high due to a specific cause. When it is identified, a healthcare provider can provide more appropriate treatment and improve health outcomes. The clinical practice guidelines state that certain patients should be screened for secondary hypertension. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase confidence levels among primary care nurse practitioners (NPs) and increase their knowledge of secondary hypertension in order to improve adherence to the clinical practice guidelines. An educational intervention and reference sheet were provided to NPs, and pre- and post-intervention questionnaires were distributed. The results showed that confidence levels and knowledge increased among the participants after the intervention. This project demonstrated that an educational intervention was an effective tool for teaching NPs about clinical practice guidelines related to hypertension management.Doctor of Nursing Practice, Post Master's DNP Completio
Sargent Pond: Rehabilitating a Historic Landscape
No full textThis project examines the historic integrity of Sargent Pond and proposes a rehabilitation plan that balances sustainable landscape design with improved public access and the goals of the Sargent Road Trust. It explores how ecologically sensitive approaches to historic landscape rehabilitation can support community stewardship, strengthen a sense of place, and promote wider recognition of the estate’s cultural significance. By evaluating strategies for enhancing access, the project aims to ensure the site’s long-term resilience and continued relevance
Introducing Co-DREAM OER: Innovative New OER Resources in Robotics and Modern Manufacturing
No full textIn 2021 Co-DREAM OER, a multi-institutional project to develop OER materials in robotics, mechatronics and advanced manufacturing, received major funding from the Dept. of Education Open Textbook Pilot Program. A collaboration involving faculty, librarians, publishers, virtual reality developers and other stakeholders, Co-DREAM OER seeks to fill a critical gap in open textbooks and develop nine works for 3 levels of study: technical college, 4-year bachelor and graduate. The project is now nearing fruition. This presentation will showcase the first textbook of the project and discuss the rolling out of additional textbooks in 2025-2026. It will highlight the innovative nature of the textbooks, which are available in print and e-format, include interactive virtual activities simulating key concepts, and have IDEA features to support students of all backgrounds. The presentation concludes by discussing how the project will sustain and update its materials in the long term through engaging the larger OER community
Open Education vs. Inclusive/Equitable Access: Cage match vs. coexistence?
No full textWant to collaborate with Creative Commons? We are open!
Creative Commons (CC) is a global non-profit organization; we believe in a world where education, culture, and science are equitably shared to benefit humanity. Our work focuses on technical, legal, and policy solutions to enable that sharing.
Yet, we also foster collaboration and community building around open efforts, globally. CC facilitates free, open community groups around the world focused on Open Culture, Copyright and Education. This year, we are pleased to offer more openly licensed resources, small project funds, CC Certificate scholarships, and opportunities for collaboration than ever before.
Join this session, as we share opportunities for engagement, including small-scale funding options. Then let’s collectively explore possibilities for future collaboration
Hybrid alternative protein-based foods: designing a healthier and more sustainable food supply
No full textThe industrial scale use of animals to produce food for humans, such as meat, egg, and dairy products, has serious environmental, health, and ethical implications. Livestock production is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and drives soil depletion, water pollution, deforestation, and biodiversity loss. There are also concerns about its negative impacts on human health and animal welfare. To feed future generations, it will be important to produce nutritious foods in a more sustainable, ethical, and environmentally friendly manner. In this article, we examine several protein-rich food sources as alternatives to traditional animal proteins, including plants, insects, mycelia, cultured animal cells, and microbial fermentation products. Each of these alternative protein sources has advantages and disadvantages in terms of their organoleptic properties, nutritional profile, consumer acceptance, affordability, and scalability. We then consider combining different alternative protein sources to form affordable, scalable, delicious, nutritious, and sustainable hybrid foods that may compete with conventional meat products, including meat–plant, cultivated meat–plant, mycelium–plant, and insect–plant foods. However, these hybrid products are still relatively new, and significant challenges, including cost reduction, scalability, regulatory approval, and consumer acceptance, need to be addressed before they become commercially viable. Future research should therefore focus on optimizing protein sources, developing scalable production methods, conducting environmental and economic analyses, and leveraging artificial intelligence for innovation. To make hybrid food products viable and sustainable, more efficient collaboration across academia, industry, and regulatory bodies is urgently needed