10-Minutes of Stress-Reduction Interventions in the Classroom Decrease Perceived
Stress and Cortisol Secretion in College Students
Student Name: Nafeesah Ahmed-Adedoja
Project Advisor: Karin Chellew
Stress is a psychological, behavioral, and physiological state of mental or emotional strain as a result of negative external or internal stressors.1 Salivary cortisol, a physiological indicator of stress, is a glucocorticoid produced by the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, secreted throughout the day (24h), and can increase under stressful conditions.2 College students tend to report higher levels of perceived stress which, on average, combined with high physiological stress can lead to negative health outcomes. A multitude of factors contribute to this, such as academic challenges, social pressures and hectic schedules which can lead to minimal time to effectively manage stress and use healthy coping mechanisms3 . In Addition, personality has been associated in this relationship, in particular, neuroticism. Neuroticism, a dimension associated with negative emotions and a worse adaptation to stress, has not only been found to be associated with increase perceived stress but also salivary cortisol levels4 . Previous research show meditation and breathing are beneficial and decrease stress, cortisol, improve concentration and wellbeing, and reduce overall levels of anxiety. 5 6
We investigated the effect of 10-min breathing and meditation exercises in the classroom on psychological and physiological stress. In this study we wanted to assess the impact of having an instructor in delivering these exercises on psychological and physiological stress and the effect of these practices in a short space of time. Undergraduate students were recruited and assigned to two different groups: control (CG) and experimental (EG) in a Psychology Course. Pre- and post- questionnaires were used to assess changes over time in academic motivation, anxiety, perceived stress and wellbeing. To assess physiological stress, five salivary cortisol samples were collected. Students also rated their perceived stress levels before and after each session. Perceived stress decreased significantly in both groups after the intervention. However, a significant reduction in cortisol was evident only in the EG. Having an instructor is necessary to produce significant reductions in cortisol. Studies like this highlight the importance of introducing short interventions in the curriculum to help students reduce their stress level and improve general wellbeing.

Investigating the Effects of Glial Subtype-Specific Tau Expression
in Drosophila melanogaster Student name: Rachel Sunwoo Kang
Project advisor: Dr. Kenneth Colodner
Tauopathies are a diverse group of neurodegenerative diseases that are characterized by the aggregation of a microtubule-associated protein, tau. Recent studies have revealed that a subset of tauopathies, such as corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), can be classified by tau aggregation primarily in glial cells such as astrocytes or oligodendrocytes1 . Glial cells, once thought to be passive fillers of the brain, have been revealed to play critical roles in brain development, function, and disease, which are unique to the glial subtype2 . In response to neurodegeneration, glial cells undergo various structural and functional changes in response to neuronal damage. Therefore, gaining a better understanding of glial cells and how each cell type responds to tau expression is crucial in studying tauopathy and overall CNS disease and injury pathology.
In this project, a Drosophila melanogaster has been developed and utilized to investigate the effects of tau expression in a glial subtype-specific manner. Previous studies have demonstrated that pan-glial expression of human tau during embryogenesis of Drosophila is lethal, while expression during adult development shows increased cell death and decreased lifespan3 . However, despite the diverse glial subtypes that shape the Drosophila nervous system, understanding tau toxicity on specific glial cell types in Drosophila is still unknown. In this study, transgenic flies with astrocyte-like glia (ALG) or cortical glia (CG)-specific tau expression, along with wild-type flies and protein control flies, were dissected and imaged using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) to observe potential tau toxicity. Results have demonstrated that tau expression in ALG does not cause cell death but rather increases ALG cell count in early female Drosophila development. In contrast, significant CG cell death and degeneration were observed in both sexes under CG-specific tau expression. Further studies investigating the mechanisms behind how tau induces such cellular changes will be valuable in understanding tauopathy and Drosophila glia.

Neuroscience and Behavior,Investigating the effects of glial subtype-specific tau expression in Drosophila melanogaster
Student: Carrie Lewis
The protein tau is involved in the pathobiology of neurodegenerative diseases through its development into tangles by the means of abnormal hyperphosphorylation. Tau is mostly expressed in neurons, but tau pathology in glial cells is seen as a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is known to enhance this formation of tau aggregates and relative toxicity from expression in neurons and glia. While there are emerging discoveries surrounding the relationship between tau pathology and TBI, the time point/exposure level in which TBI can incite robust aggregation and toxicity has not been explored in a cell-type specific disease model. In this study, we used Drosophila melanogaster to overexpress tau in astrocytes, a major glial cell of the brain, and exposed flies to various amounts of TBI at various time points within their lifespan. Through immunohistochemistry, we found that there was no difference in the presence of tau aggregates at day 10, but there was a significantly higher mortality index at the same time point in flies that were hit on four of the 10 days compared to flies hit on day 9 and flies that were not hit at all. This suggests that toxicity is not linked to aggregate presence, and the tau toxicity associated with the increase in mortality for flies who experienced multiple hits should be explored.

Exploring the Anatomic Framework of an Adult Fruit Fly Brain Using Python Programming and Machine Learning
Student presenter: Shuojia Lin
Project Advisor: Kenneth Colodner
The tracheal system in Drosophila melanogaster, commonly known as the fruit fly, consists of a complex network of epithelial tubules that serve as the organism's respiratory organ. Oxygen intake and carbon dioxide output occur through spiracles located on the side of the body, enabling gas exchange throughout the tracheal tubular network. During the embryonic and larval stages, target-derived signaling plays a crucial role in regulating branching, morphogenesis, and patterning of the tracheal system to ensure efficient gas exchange across the body . Although the stereotyped patterning of 1 the tracheal system in the Drosophila body during development is well-established, the extent of our knowledge regarding tracheal patterning within the brain remains limited.
This study aimed to explore the anatomical framework of an adult fruit fly brain by employing Python programming and machine learning techniques. Specifically, my primary objective was to analyze its properties, including the interactions between the trachea and synapses. To achieve this goal, I utilized PyMaid and Navis, two Python libraries that allowed me to specify the quantitative relationship between the tracheal system and the synapses. Additionally, I employed advanced machine learning algorithms to calculate the radius of the trachea for further analysis. The findings of this study provide a detailed description of the tracheal network within the brain of an adult fruit fly, serving as an essential resource for future research endeavoring to focus on the mechanisms controlling tracheal function in Drosophila. The utilization of Python programming and machine learning techniques demonstrates the significance of these tools in the field of neuroscience and underscores their potential for facilitating similar investigations in the future.

Circadian rhythm disruption in a Drosophila melanogaster model of tauopathy
Student Name: Olivia Oats
Project Advisor: Kenneth Colodner
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease classified as a tauopathy that affects millions of people every year. Tauopathies are characterized by the presence of tau tangles. Tau is a protein with many functions, one of which is assembling microtubules, another protein that helps maintain the cell structure.1 An increased expression of tau, as accompanies tauopathies, has been linked to disruptions of the circadian rhythm.2 The circadian rhythm is a 24-hour cycle the body follows that regulates many bodily functions such as feelings of hunger and sleep. Disrupting the circadian rhythm interferes with the body’s ability to properly follow the 24-hour cycle, disrupting bodily cycles such as sleep and hunger. Many AD patients experience a disrupted circadian resulting in symptoms such as fragmented sleep and evening restlessness.3 The complete mechanism of circadian rhythm disruption in AD is still unknown.
A Drosophila melanogaster model of tauopathy was used to study the possible effect of tau on the circadian rhythm in AD. Prior research has demonstrated a disruption of the circadian rhythm in D. melanogaster models of tauopathy.2 The circadian system of D. melanogaster is analogous to humans, although less complex.4 The genes that help to regulate the circadian rhythm and keep the 24-hr cycle synchronized with the environment are known as clock genes3 , and these are conserved across most living creatures.4 The expression of clock genes naturally oscillates during the circadian cycle, some having higher levels of expression in the morning, while others have higher expression in the evening.4 The project examines the differences in the levels of transcription of the clock genes at two specific times during a 24-hr cycle in tau-expressing flies compared to non-tau-expressing flies.