Dr. Robert Clements is a neuroscientist who teaches and performs research at Kent State University to develop and apply different three-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques to understand diseases of the brain, for virtual and physical reconstruction as well as education. Dr. Clements’ research aims to visualize our brains’ three-dimensional structure for better disease diagnosis and therapies as well as improve how we learn, experience, and perceive spatial environments and objects.

Qries

EDUCATION

  º B.S. Zoology, Miami University
  º PhD. Kent State University

CURRENT RESEARCH
  º Multiple Sclerosis
  º Biomedical Imaging and Visualization
  º Virtual Reality
  º Automated Data Anaylsis
  º Biomaterials
  º Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
  º Neuroendocrinology
  º Haptics

CONTACT INFORMATION
Department of Biological Sciences
Kent State University
Kent, OH 44242
EMAIL: rclement@kent.edu


PUBLICATIONS
Woo, J. Kim, JW., Mahmood, N. Simpson, L. Kim, K. Jarzembak, J. James, A. Biggs, J. Clements, R. Dunlosky, J. Evaluating Variability in a Haptic Mixed Reality IV Needle Insertion Simulation. 2023 5th International Conference on Bio-engineering for Smart Technologies (BioSMART), Paris, France, 2023, pp. 1-6.

Tadisetty S, Chodavarapu R, Jin R, Clements RJ, Yu M. Identifying the Edges of the Optic Cup and the Optic Disc in Glaucoma Patients by Segmentation. Sensors (Basel). 2023 May 11;23(10):4668. doi: 10.3390/s23104668. PMID: 37430580; PMCID: PMC10221430.

Richard E. Ferdig, Enrico Gandolfi, Chris Lenart, Robert Clements. Building an augmented reality system for consumption and production of hybrid gaming and storytelling. IxD&A, Interaction Design and Architecture(s) Journal - IxD&A,2023, 56, pp. 53 – 68.

Prévôt ME, Ustunel S, Freychet G, Webb CR, Zhernenkov M, Pindak R, Clements RJ, Hegmann E. Physical Models from Physical Templates Using Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Elastomers as Morphologically Programmable Inks For 3D Printing. Macromol Biosci. 2023 Mar;23(3):e2200343.

Ustunel, S., Sternbach, S., Prévôt, M. E., Freeman, E. J., McDonough, J. A., Clements*, R. J., Hegmann*, E., J. 3D Co-culturing of human neuroblastoma and human oligodendrocytes, emulating native tissue using 3D porous biodegradable liquid crystal elastomers. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2023, e53883.

Raber, J., Ferdig, R. E., Gandolfi, E., & Clements, R. (in press). An analysis of motivation and situational interest in a location-based augmented reality application. IxD&A, Interaction Design and Architecture(s) Journal - IxD&A, , 2022, 52, 198 - 220.

Gandolfi, E., Ferdig, R. E., & Clements, R. (2022). Streaming code across audiences and performers: An analysis of computer science communities of inquiry on Twitch.tv. British Journal of Educational Technology, 2022, 53, 1688– 1705.

Gandolfi, E., Ferdig, R. E., Carlyn, D., Kratcoski, A., Dunfee, J., Hassler, D., Blank, J., Lenart, C., & Clements, R. (2021). GLARE: An Open Source Augmented Reality Platform for Location-Based Content Delivery. International Journal of Virtual and Augmented Reality (IJVAR), 5(1), 1-19.

Kandanapitiye MS, Dassanayake TM, Dassanayake AC, Shelestak J, Clements RJ, Fernando C, Huang SD. K2 Mn3 [FeII (CN)6 ]2 NPs with High T1 -Relaxivity Attributable to Water Coordination on the Mn(II) Center for Gastrointestinal Tract MR Imaging. Adv Healthc Mater. 2021 Oct;10(20):e2100987.

Clements, R. Davidson,M. Model, MA Experimental test of the geometric model of image formation in bright-field microscopy. J Microsc. 2021 Jul;283(1):3-8

Sternbach S, West N, Singhal NK, Clements R, Basu S, Tripathi A, Dutta R, Freeman EJ, McDonough J. The BHMT-betaine methylation pathway epigenetically modulates oligodendrocyte maturation. PLoS One. 2021 May 11;16(5):e0250486. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250486.

Ustunel,S. Prévôt,M. Rohaley,G. Webb, C.Yavitt,B. Freychet, G. Zhernenkov,M. Pindak,R. Schaible,E. Zhu,C. Hegmann,T. Clements,R. Hegmann,E. Mechanically tunable elastomer and cellulose nanocrystal composites as scaffolds for in vitro cell studies , Mater. Adv., 2021,2, 464-476

Khan, P. Lu, CC. Hossain, A. Clements, R. Distributed ImageJ (Fiji): A Framework for Parallel Image Processing. Submitted, IET Image Processing. Volume 14, Issue 12, 2937 – 2947,2020.

Ustunel, S. Prévôt, M. Clements, RJ. Hegmann, E. Cradle-to-cradle: designing biomaterials to fit as truly biomimetic cell scaffolds– a review, Liquid Crystals Today, 2020, 29:3, 40-52

Shelestak, J. Singhal, N. Frankle, L. Tomor, R. Stemback, S. McDonough, J. Freeman, E. Clements, R. Increased blood-brain barrier hyperpermeability coincides with mast cell activation early under cuprizone administration. Blood Brain Barrier in Health and Pathology, PLOS One. 2020; 15(6): e0234001.

Singhal, N. Sternbach, S. Fleming, S. Alkhayer, K. Shelestak, J. Popescu, D. Weaver, A. Clements, R. Wasek, B. Bottiglieri, T. Freeman, EJ. McDonough J. Betaine restores epigenetic control and supports neuronal mitochondria in the cuprizone mouse model of multiple sclerosis, online, Epigenetics. 1-16,2020.

Cahalane, C. Bonezzi, J. Shelestak, J. Clements, R. Boika, A. Yun, YH. Shriver, LP. Targeted Delivery of Anti-inflammatory and Imaging Agents to Microglial Cells with Polymeric Nanoparticles. Molecular Pharmaceutics. 17(6):1816-1826. 2020.

Mori, T Cukelj, R. Prévôt, ME. Ustunel, S. Story, A. Gao, Y. Diabre, K. McDonough, J. Freeman, EJ. Hegmann, E. Clements, RJ. 3D Porous Liquid Crystal Elastomer Foams Supporting Long?term Neuronal Cultures. Macromolecular Rapid Communications. 41:5, 2020.

Gandolfi, E. Clements, R. Co-Teach, Co-Watch, Co-Learn Instructional performances and online commentary in Computer Science shows on Twitch.tv. Computers & Education, Accepted pending revisions. 2019

Gandolfi, E. Clements, R. Alternative Embodied Cognitions at Play Evaluation of Audio-Based Navigation in Virtual Settings Via Interactive Sounds. Virtual Worlds Research. 12:1 2019.

Rana, PS..Gibbons, BA.Vereninov, AA. Yurinskaya, V. Clements,RJ. Model,T. Model, M. Calibration and characterization of intracellular Asante Potassium Green probes, APG-2 and APG-4. Analytical Biochemistry, 567.8-13, 2019.

Vercellone,B. Shelestak,J. Dhaher, Y. Clements, R. Haptic Interfaces for Individuals with Visual Impairments. G|A|M|E The Italian Journal of Game Studies., Issue 7, Vol. 1 2018.

Dunlosky, J. Dudley, D. Spitznagel,MB. Clements, RJ. Students’ Metamemory About the Impact of Stereoscopic Three-dimensional Presentations of Science Content Appl Cognit Psychol. 1–9. 2018.

Popescu DC, Huang H, Singhal NK, Shriver L, McDonough J, Clements, RJ. Freeman, EJ. Vitamin K enhances the production of brain sulfatides during remyelination. PLOS ONE 13(8). 2018

Model, M. Mudrak, N. Rana, PS. Clements, RJ. Staurosporine-induced apoptotic water loss is cell- and attachment specific. Apoptosis. 2018 Aug;23(7-8):449-455.

Singhal NK, Alkhayer K, Shelestak J, Clements R, Freeman E, McDonough J.Erythropoietin Upregulates Brain Hemoglobin Expression and Supports Neuronal Mitochondrial Activity. Mol Neurobiol. 2018 Mar 1

Singhal, N.K. Freeman, E. Arning, E Wasek, B. Clements, R. Sheppard, C.Blake, P. Bottiglieri, T McDonough, J. Dysregulation of Methionine Metabolism in Multiple Sclerosis. Neurochem Int. 2018 Jan;112:1-4.

NK Singhal, H Huang, S Li, R Clements, J Gadd, A Daniels, EE Kooijman, P Bannerman, T Burns, F Guo, D Pleasure, E Freeman, L Shriver, J McDonough The neuronal metabolite NAA regulates histone H3 methylation in oligodendrocytes and myelin lipid composition Experimental Brain Research 2017, Volume 235, Issue 1, pp 279–292

Dhaher, Y., & Clements, R. (2017). A Virtual Haptic Platform to Assist Seeing Impaired Learning: Proof of Concept. Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research, 7(2).

M.E. Prévôt, L.E. Bergquist, A.Sharma, T. Mori, Y. Gao, T. Bera, C. Zhu, M.T. Leslie, R. Cukelj, L.T.J. Korley, E.J. Freeman, J.A. McDonough, R.J. Clements, and E. Hegmann*, “New developments in 3D liquid crystal elastomers scaffolds for tissue engineering: from physical template to responsive substrate ”, Proc. SPIE 10361, 103610T-103610T-11 (2017).

NK Singhal, H Huang, S Li, R Clements, J Gadd, A Daniels, EE Kooijman, P Bannerman, T Burns, F Guo, D Pleasure, E Freeman, L Shriver, J McDonough The neuronal metabolite NAA regulates histone H3 methylation in oligodendrocytes and myelin lipid composition Experimental Brain Research 2017, Volume 235, Issue 1, pp 279–292

Prévôt,ME.Ustunel, S. Bergquist,LE. Cukelj, R.Gao, Y. Mori, T. Clements,RJ. Hegmann, E. Synthesis of biocompatible liquid crystal elastomer foams as cell scaffolds for 3D spatial cell cultures. J Vis Exp. 2017 Apr 11;(122). doi: 10.3791/55452.

Sharma, A. Mori, T. Mahnen, CJ. Everson, HR. Leslie, T. Nielsen, AD.Lussier, L. Zhu, C. Malcuit, C. Hegmann, T. McDonough, JA.Freeman, E. Korley, TJ. Clements, RJ. Hegmann, E.Effects of structural variations on the cellular response and the mechanical properties of biocompatible, biodegradable, and porous smectic liquid crystal elastomers, Macromol Biosci 17 (2). 2016.

T. Bera, C. Malcuit, R.J. Clements, and E. Hegmann, “The role of the surfactant during microemulsion photopolymerization for the creation of three-dimensional (3D) liquid crystal elastomer microsphere spatial cell scaffolds”, Front. Mat., section Biomaterials, 3, 31 (2016).

Hegmann, E. Bera, T. Malcuit, C. Clements, RJ The role of the surfactant during microemulsion photopolymerization for the creation of three-dimensional (3D) liquid crystal elastomer microsphere spatial cell scaffolds, Front. Mat., section Biomaterials, 3, 31 2016.

Brown, K. Alkhayer, R. Clements, S. Li, N. K. Singhal, R. Gregory, S. Azzam, E.J. Freeman, J. McDonough, Neuronal hemoglobin expression and its relevance to multiple sclerosis neuropathology, J. Mol. Neurosci. 2016 May;59(1):1-17.

Gao, Y Manning, S Zhao, Y.. Nielsen,AD. Mori, TNeshat, A. Sharma, A. Mahnen,CJ. Everson,HR Crotty, S Clements, R. Malcuit, C. Hegmann, E. Biocompatible 3D liquid crystal elastomer cell scaffolds and foams with primary and secondary porous architecture. ACS Macro Lett. 2016, 5, 4-9.

Singhal N K , Li S, Arning E, Alkhayer K, Clements R, Sarcyk Z, Dassanayake R S, Brasch N E, Freeman E J, Bottiglieri T, McDonough J. Changes in Methionine Metabolism and Histone H3 Trimethylation are Linked to Mitochondrial Defects in Multiple Sclerosis, J. Neurosci. 2015, 35, 15170-15186.

T. Bera, E.J. Freeman, J.A. McDonough, R.J. Clements, A. Aladlaan, D.W. Miller, C. Malcuit, T. Hegmann, and E. Hegmann, “ Liquid Crystal Elastomer Microspheres as Three-Dimensional Cell Scaffolds Supporting the Attachment and Proliferation of Myoblasts” ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2015, 7, 14528-14535.

Ferdig, R, Blank, J. Kratcoski, A. and Clements, R. Using Stereoscopy to Teach Complex Biological Concepts, Advances in Physiology Education, Published 1 September 2015 Vol. 39 no. 3, 205-208

Sharma, A. Neshat, A. Mahnen,CJ. Nielsen, AD. Snyder, J. Stankovich,TL. Daum, BG. LaSpina, EM. Beltrano,G. Li, S. Park, BW. Clements, RJ. Freeman, EJ. Malcuit, C. McDonough, JA. Korley, LTJ. Hegmann, T. Hegmann, E. “Biocompatible, biodegradable and porous liquid crystal elastomer scaffolds for spatial cell cultures”, Macromol. Biosci. 2014, DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201400325

Freeman, E. McDonough, J. and Clements, R. The effect of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) on the corticotropin-releasing factor system in the motor cortex; astrocytes and the blood brain barrier. Journal of Life Sciences. April 2014, Vol. 8, No. 4, pp. 295-305.

Li, S. Clements, R. Sulak, M. Gregory, R. Freeman, R. McDonough, J. Decreased NAA in Gray Matter is Correlated with Decreased Availability of Acetate in White Matter in Postmortem Multiple Sclerosis Cortex, Neurochem Res. 38(11):2385-96. 2013

Broadwater L, Pandit A, Azzam S, Clements RJ, Vadnal J, Yong VW , Freeman EJ, Gregory RB, McDonough J Analysis of the Mitochondrial Proteome in Multiple Sclerosis Cortex. BBA Molecular Basis of Disease. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2011 May;1812(5):630-41. Epub 2011 Feb 2.

Clements, R McDonough, J and Freeman E. Multiple Sclerosis and GABAergic function in the Motor Cortex. Horizons in Neuroscience Research. Volume 3, Motor Cortex: Anatomy, Functions and Injuries, Nova Science Publishers,2010.

Sheakley M, Clements RJ and Freeman EJ: Angiotensin II-Dependent Growth of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Requires Transactivation of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Via a Cytosolic Phospholipase A2-Mediated Release of Arachidonic Acid. Arch Biochem Biophys; 498(1):50-6 2010.

Clements, R McDonough, J and Freeman E. Multiple Sclerosis and GABAergic function in the Motor Cortex. Horizons in Neuroscience Research. Volume 3, Motor Cortex: Anatomy, Functions and Injuries, Nova Science Publishers,2010.

Clements, RJ. Mintz, EM. and Blank, JL High resolution stereoscopic volume visualization of the mouse magnocellular arginine vasopressin system. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 187:1 pp 41-45 2010

Clements, RJ; Lawrence, RC. Blank, JL. Effects of intrauterine 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on the development and function of the gonadotrophin releasing hormone neuronal system in the male rat. Repro. Tox. 28(1):38-45, 2009

Clements, RJ. McDonough, J. Freeman, EJ. Distribution of parvalbumin and calretinin immunoreactive interneurons in motor cortex from multiple sclerosis post-mortem tissue. Experimental Brain Research, vol. 187, pp. 459-465, 2008

Clements, R. Blank, JL. A Stereoscopic Volume Rendered Brain Atlas. Brains, Minds Media, vol. 3, pp. 1-9, 2008

Jamison, J.M.; Neal, D.R.; Getch, S. Summers, J.L.;Gilloteaux, J. ;Taper, H.S.; Calderon, P B.; Laszlo T.M.; Blank, J.L.; Clements, R.J. Chapter 7 -The In Vitro and In Vivo Antitumor Activity of Vitamin C: K3 Combinations Against Prostate Cancer. Trends in Prostate Cancer Research, 189-236, 2005

Glass, J.D. Tardif, SD. Clements, R. Mrosovsky, N Photic and nonphotic circadian phase resetting in a diurnal primate, the common marmoset. . American Journal of Physiology 280(1 Part 2)2001. p.R191-R197