Mathematical Biology
Seminar
Department of
Mathematical Sciences
New Jersey Institute
of Technology
Fall
2014
All seminars are 11:40-12:40, in Cullimore Hall Room 611 (Math Conference Room) unless noted otherwise. If you have any questions about a particular seminar, please contact the person hosting the speaker. The Math Department also hosts a number of other seminars and colloquia which can be accessed here: DMS Seminar Listing
Date |
Speaker and Title |
Host |
Tuesday September 16 |
Horacio Rotstein- New Jersey Institute of Technology |
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Tuesday |
No Seminar |
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Tuesday |
No Seminar |
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Tuesday |
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Tuesday |
Dave Stanley - Boston University
Circadian rhythms, epilepsy and synchrony: A series of computational |
Casey Diekman |
Tuesday |
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Tuesday |
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Casey |
Tuesday |
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Amit |
Tuesday |
Hugh Piggins- University of Manchester
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Casey |
Tuesday |
Society for Neuroscience Meeting - No Seminar
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Tuesday |
No Seminar
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Tuesday |
No Seminar
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. |
Tuesday |
Tim O'Leary - Brandeis University | Farzan |
Abstracts
Dave Stanley - Boston University
Circadian rhythms, epilepsy and synchrony: A series of computational and experimental investigations
For over a century epileptic seizures have been known to cluster at specific times of the day, but the mechanisms underlying this daily periodicity are not understood. We analyzed 24-hour rhythms in continuous long-term EEG recordings obtained from rats with temporal lobe epilepsy. We observed that both spontaneous hippocampal EEG spikes (SPKs) and EEG rhythms oscillated with near 24-hour periods. Following injury by status epilepticus (SE), a persistent phase shift hours emerged in animals that later went on to develop chronic spontaneous seizures. Using a combination of biophysical computer modeling and MRI data analysis, we provide a mechanistic theory for how such a phase shift could emerge. We conclude by discussing how abnormal circadian regulation may contribute to the daily rhythms of epileptic seizures. Additional topics, time permitting, will include modeling of intrinsic neural noise and a dynamical systems approach to synchrony detection.Modeling cell calcium dynamics: challenges and open problems
Perceptual bistability in auditory streaming
Perceptual bistability leads to spontaneous switches between competing interpretations of ambiguous sensory input. In auditory bistable perception sequences of alternating high and low tones can be perceived as grouped in a single rhythm or as split into separate streams. We present a physiologically motivated, low dimensional dynamical model with periodic input that takes into account mechanisms of mutual inhibition, slow adaptation and noise. The perceptual organisation for auditory perception in terms of stimulus parameters is captured; other model parameters are further constrained to match data from ongoing psychoacoustic experiments. Our model can accountTissue engineering for peripheral nerve regeneration
Although many approaches have been examined for enhancing peripheral nerve regeneration, none have performed better than autograft procedures, the 'gold standard' for repairing peripheral nerve injuries. In particular, the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries involving large nerve gap is still challenging. Due to the inherent limitations of using autografts, tissue engineering has emerged as a powerful tool for developing viable alternative nerve grafts for peripheral nerve regeneration. In this talk, several tissue engineering strategies for promoting peripheral nerve regeneration will be discussed. The focus will be on novel structured nanofibrous nerve conduit that can meet the mechanical and nutrient transport requirements and provide directional guidance and augmented surface areas for enhancing cell invasion and peripheral nerve regeneration, and bioactive nanofibrous nerve conduits functionalized with extracellular matrix molecules and neurotrophic factors. Moreover, due to the abundance of variables that exist in tissue engineered nerve graft construction and multiple assessment types, there has been limited success in comparing nerve graft effectiveness among experiments. Another focus of the talk is on describing a new normalization technique based on nerve conduction velocity data from autografts. This technique allows for comparing the effectiveness of various tissue engineered nerve grafts, and further improving the design of tissue engineered nerve grafts for peripheral nerve regeneration.Extrinsic and intrinsic regulation of the brain’s circadian clock