Publications by authors named "W M O'Brien"

Background: Plasma and cerebrospinal (CSF) biomarkers are promising candidates for detecting neuropathology. While CSF biomarkers directly reflect pathophysiological processes within the central nervous system, their requirement for a lumbar puncture is a barrier to their widespread scalability in practice. Therefore, we examined cross-sectional associations of plasma biomarkers of amyloid (Aβ42/Aβ40 and pTau-181), neurodegeneration (Neurofilament Light, NfL), and neuroinflammation (Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, GFAP) with brain volume, cognition, and their corresponding CSF levels.

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Background: Growing evidence shows neurovascular dysfunction occurs early in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may be a useful early marker of pathology. Blood-brain barrier water exchange rate (BBB kw) is a novel measure of fluid transport through the neurovascular unit. Lower BBB kw has been associated with vascular risk factors, but its relationship with age, vascular brain health and biomarkers of AD remains equivocal.

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Objectives: Selective Optimization with Compensation (SOC) is an empirically supported model of successful aging. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an empirically supported intervention that has a theoretical model which is complementary to the SOC model. Combining the two models can provide a more comprehensive view of successful aging.

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T7 RNA Polymerase (RNAP) is a widely used enzyme with recent applications in the production of RNA vaccines. For over 50 years denaturing sequencing gels have been used as key analysis tools for probing the nucleotide addition mechanisms of T7 RNAP and other polymerases. However, sequencing gels are low-throughput limiting their utility for comprehensive enzyme analysis.

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