Storms, Hurricanes, and Floods
An aerial view of extreme flooding: New Orleans inundated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (2005). Such catastrophic floods illustrate how powerful storms can devastate entire regions, endanger lives, and cripple critical infrastructure. Heavy precipitation One of the clearest signals of climate change is a marked increase in heavy precipitation and flooding events. A warmer atmosphere […]
Introduction to Extreme Weather Hazards
Even as far back as ancient times, people understood that weather could influence health—Hippocrates wrote 2,400 years ago that anyone practicing medicine must consider seasonal weather changes and their effects on disease. Today, our climate is changing at an unprecedented rate, and this is driving more extreme weather events that pose serious risks to human […]
Mini-literature review
Requirements Minimum 1,000 words. Minimum 10 citations Mini-reviews are essential when you Are writing a review paper. Draft the intro or discussion sections of research/scholarly work. Venture into a new research/scholarly field. Prepare a research/scholarly proposal. A mini-literature review should Summarize key findings in your topic area Evaluate the quality and impact of studies Show […]
The PICO process
Patient or population Intervention and treatment Comparison of one intervention to another Outcome you anticipate
4. Limbic neurotransmitters and relevant neuroanatomyÂ
Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline) Primary location Concentrated in the hypothalamus, medial limbic system, locus ceruleus (rostral pons), and medulla. Functions Modulates alertness, attentiveness, and arousal. Clinical relevance Degeneration of noradrenergic projections from the rostral pons is implicated in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Current research explores its role in cognitive and behavioral changes (e.g., Holland et al., 2021). […]
3. Long-term potentiation and memory consolidationÂ
Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) is a form of synaptic plasticity where repeated stimulation of a synapse increases its strength, enhancing the likelihood of future activation and contributing to memory formation. LTP mechanisms Glutamate release NMDA receptor activation Calcium influx Retrograde signaling via nitric oxide Leading to increased neurotransmitter release and synaptic responsiveness The LTP process Image […]
2. Memory function and the neuroanatomyÂ
Key definitions Learning is a neural mechanism by which the organism’s behavior changes because of an experience or stimulus. Memory is the storage mechanism for what is learned. Normally, once memory information is encoded, it is no longer dependent on the hippocampus for retrieval. Memory involves distinct brain regions Hippocampus Critical for encoding and consolidating […]
1. Neuroanatomy and limbic system functionsÂ
Functions regulated by the limbic system Mnemonic Use the acronym HOME. H Homeostasis: Maintains internal physiological balance via hypothalamic connections. O Olfaction: Processes smell through olfactory pathways. M Memory: Especially episodic and spatial memory via the medial temporal lobe. E Emotion: Modulates emotional responses through the Papez circuit and amygdala. Medial temporal lobe: Central to […]
Limbic system and functional neurocircuitry
Learning goals Identify and localize the neuroanatomy of the limbic system on diagrams and MRI images Describe how specific brain regions and functional neural pathways are involved in short- and long-term memory Explain how long-term potentiation is associated with establishing memories Describe the functional neural pathways and neurotransmitter circuits associated with neuronal excitation, inhibition, and […]
Parasitology 3: Tissue-invasive parasites
Learning goals Contrast the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, and diagnosis of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis Contrast the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, and diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in patients with HIV/AIDS, neonates, and immunocompetent hosts Contrast the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, and diagnosis of diseases caused by Trichinella, Toxocara (visceral larva migrans), Taenia solium (cysticercosis), […]