Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
IUPUI - Department of Mathematical Sciences
Topic 1:
Assessing vascular compensation following a major arterial occlusion - Julia Arciero
Project Description:
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is characterized by the partial or full blockage of systemic arteries (often due to atherosclerosis), resulting in reduced blood supply to tissue. In some cases, the body is able to compensate sufficiently for the occlusion, but in other cases, normal tissue function is lost. Unraveling which vessels are most important for restoring blood flow to tissue following an occlusion is necessary for determining appropriate therapies to enhance vascular compensation in PAD. The objective of this project is to develop a theoretical model based on both experimental mouse data and clinical human data to determine the primary blood vessels that provide compensation under resting and exercise conditions in healthy and obese individuals.
Topic 2:
Amphetamines and neural control of body temperature - Yaroslav Molkov
Project Description:
Cognitive, neurophysiological, and neuroanatomical deficits induced by long-term use of amphetamines are enhanced by hyperthermia, which itself is a major mortality factor in drug abusers. Due to multiple factors involved in temperature responses to amphetamines, including various neuromediator systems, ambient temperature, current metabolic status, and previous exposure to the drug, malignant hyperthermia is hard to foresee, and hence, is impossible to prevent. The objective of this project is to develop a theoretical framework for describing the interaction of amphetamine-induced thermodysregulation and environmental factors with the ultimate goal of predicting scenarios which can lead to life-threatening thermal imbalance in amphetamine users.
