BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//RLASKEY//CALENDEROUS//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260905T204429Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20130904T165904Z
DTSTART:20130909T183000Z
DTEND:20130909T193000Z
UID:event1136@bu.edu
URL:http://physics.bu.edu/internal/events/show/1136
SUMMARY:Application of Statistical Physics Methods to Quantify the Aging Pr
	ocess in the Brain
DESCRIPTION:Featuring Joao Ricardo Santos\n\nPart of the Preliminary Oral E
	xam.\n\nExamining Committee:  H. E. Stanley\, Rama Bansil\, Tulika Bose\, S
	hyamsunder Erramilli\n\nAbstract:\n\nIt has been recently discovered that d
	uring the normal aging process\, myelinated axons (or nerve fibers) in the 
	fornix area of the rhesus monkey brain decrease in number with age\, betwee
	n 27% and 45%. However\, this decrease in the number of myelinated axons is
	 not accompanied with a reduction of the fornix volume. In fact\, Peters et
	 al. have recently shown\, via light and electron microscopy\, that there i
	s no change of the cross–sectional area of the fornix area with age. Furt
	hermore\, the decrease of the myelinated axon density correlates with an in
	crease of cognitive impairment of the rhesus monkeys studied.\n\nIn this wo
	rk\, we investigate whether\, associated with a decrease in density of myel
	inated axons\, there is a change in the spatial relationship (i.e. structur
	e) between the myelinated axons in the fornix area that could provide insig
	hts in the aging process. The bundle of nerve fibers that collectively comp
	ose the fornix is crucial in normal cognitive functions\, especially memory
	 functions.\n\nAs such\, we developed a recognition algorithm to help us id
	entify myelinated axons in electron microscopy images of the fornix area of
	 the rhesus monkey brain and\, from that data\, are able to apply statistic
	al physics methods to determine what structural features are more affected 
	by the aging process. These features are later calculated for random genera
	ted samples and compared to the original ones. Finally\, we can model the a
	ging process observed in myelinated axons in the fornix area\, and better u
	nderstand (and possibly delay) aging effects.
LOCATION:PRB 365\, 3 Cummington Mall\, 02215
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CLASS:PUBLIC
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR