EOR-1/PLZF-regulated WAH-1/AIF sequentially promotes early and late stages of non-apoptotic corpse removal.

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a crucial, genetically-encoded, and evolutionarily-conserved process required for development and homeostasis. We previously identified a genetically non-apoptotic, highly ordered, and stereotyped killing program called Compartmentalized Cell Elimination (CCE) in the C. elegans tail-spike epithelial cell (TSC).

System for Focal, Closed-System Central Nervous System Injury.

The prevalence of closed-system central nervous system (CNS) injuries underscores the need for an enhanced understanding of these traumas to improve protective and therapeutic interventions. Crucial to this research are animal models that replicate closed-system CNS injuries. In this context, a custom overpressure air system was engineered to reproduce a range of closed-system CNS injuries in murine models, including ocular, brain, and spinal cord trauma.

Neurodegeneration-related genes influence pharyngeal activity.

Pharyngeal pumping and its reduction following mechanical insult are well-studied behaviors. Here, we assessed new applications of pharyngeal pumping assays in the study of neurodegenerative disease and psychiatric illness. We examined five genes implicated in two forms of neurodegeneration, Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSPs) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD), for both baseline pharyngeal pumping and the depressive response after touch stimulus.

NRF2/ARE mediated antioxidant response to glaucoma: role of glia and retinal ganglion cells.

Glaucoma, the second leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, is associated with age and sensitivity to intraocular pressure (IOP). We have shown that elevated IOP causes an early increase in levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the microbead occlusion mouse model. We also detected an endogenous antioxidant response mediated by Nuclear factor erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (NRF2), a transcription factor that binds to the antioxidant response element (ARE) and increases transcription of antioxidant genes.

Unconventional electronic phase transition in SnBiTe: role of anomalous thermal expansion.

We propose SnBiTeto be a novel topological quantum material exhibiting temperature () mediated transitions between rich electronic phases. Our combined theoretical and experimental results suggest that SnBiTegoes from a low-semimetallic phase to a high-(room temperature) insulating phase via an intermediate metallic phase. Single crystals of SnBiTeare characterized by various experimental probes including synchrotron based x-ray diffraction, magnetoresistance, Hall effect, Seebeck coefficient and magnetization.