Category: 2016-17

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2016-17, Biology

Integrating Synthetic Biology with Hepatogenous Diabetes Treatments

Caleb Sooknanan ‘20 Hepatogenous diabetes is a condition often characterized by the comorbid presence of type 2 diabetes with chronic liver disease. A major factor in this condition is insulin resistance (IR), an asymptomatic disease state in which impaired insulin signaling causes organ dysfunction. Current therapies that target IR are limited and generally inapplicable for patients with liver disease. Dr. Shuai Xue and researchers at … Continue reading Integrating Synthetic Biology with Hepatogenous Diabetes Treatments

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Figure 1: This is an illustration depicting the difference between healthy muscle cells (shown on the right) and muscle cells affected by muscle dystrophy (shown on the left). Due to the degeneration of the muscle cells, they will appear much smaller than usual.
2016-17, Health

Correcting Muscular Dystrophy Gene Mutations

Richard Liang 18’ Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe form of muscle degeneration that can become lethal if it affects heart muscle. It is known to be caused by mutations in the X-linked dystrophin-coding gene and thus, there has been ongoing research in correcting these mutations. Currently, there is no effective treatment for this disease. Recently, in a study led by Yu Zhang from … Continue reading Correcting Muscular Dystrophy Gene Mutations

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2016-17, Health

A Mechanical Thorax for CPR Simulation

Caleb Sooknanan ’20 For the past few decades, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines have been regulated on the basis of chest compression, medication procedures, and other criteria. However, the circulation generated via CPR varies with intensity and duration of compressions, which can be inconsistent. As studies evaluating such inconsistencies have been relegated to animal or computer simulations due their medical and ethical concerns, Dr. Stefan Eichhorn … Continue reading A Mechanical Thorax for CPR Simulation

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2016-17, Health

New and Revolutionary Treatment for Bacterial Infection

By Patrick Yang ’20 Bronchiectasis occurs when the lung’s bronchial tubes are permanently damaged or inflamed, leading to chest pain, coughing up blood, and large production of mucus. These damaged lung walls also make bronchiectasis patients more prone to chronic infection and, specifically, Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections, which increase mortality rates. However, previous research has shown that patients with bronchiectasis and chronic P. aeruginosa infection … Continue reading New and Revolutionary Treatment for Bacterial Infection

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Figure 1. Artificially sweetened drinks are connected to a greater risk for stroke and dementia.
2016-17, Health

Sugary Drinks vs. Healthy Brains

By Taylor Ha ’18 Many American consumers regularly indulge in hundreds of sugar- and artificially- sweetened name brand drinks: Coke, Sprite, Fanta soda, and Hawaiian punch, to name a few. However, routine consumption of such drinks is associated with cardiometabolic diseases, which can amplify stroke and dementia risk. And according to new research published on April 20, 2017, avid soda, fruit juice, and overall sweet … Continue reading Sugary Drinks vs. Healthy Brains

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Figure 1. High dosages of vitamin C are selectively toxic to cancer cells and can enhance cancer therapies.
2016-17, Health

Vitamin C Enhances Cancer Therapy

By Patrick Yang ’20 Ascorbate, or vitamin C, is a potential anti-cancer agent when paired with chemotherapy. Scientists hypothesize that ascorbate’s curative powers stem from its ability to produce hydrogen peroxide, which reduces iron to form free radicals – highly reactive molecules that damage DNA and cause cell death. Since aggressive cancers have unusually large intracellular iron pools that support cancer spread and growth, ascorbate … Continue reading Vitamin C Enhances Cancer Therapy

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Figure 1. The naked mole-rat’s ability to temporarily survive without oxygen can help create new treatments for stroke and heart attack patients.
2016-17, Biology

From Naked Mole-Rats to Human Treatment

By Taylor Ha ’18 Naked mole-rats are pink, wrinkly, and big-toothed. Deep underground in hypoxic, or low oxygen, and high carbon dioxide conditions, these strange creatures live in colonies of up to 280 members. And, according to a recent study published on April 21, 2017, they also have the ability to metabolize fructose, just like plants, and survive without oxygen for 18 minutes without any … Continue reading From Naked Mole-Rats to Human Treatment

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Figure 1. Whooping cough can be fatal in infants, but it is easily preventable through vaccination.
2016-17, Math

Maternal Vaccination’s Role in Infant Survival

By Patrick Yang ’20 Pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, is a life-threatening infection in infants that can easily be prevented through vaccination. However, infection rate has been increasing over the past several years. And since the DTaP vaccine for pertussis is administered after two, four, and six months of age, an infant is especially vulnerable during his or her first two months of … Continue reading Maternal Vaccination’s Role in Infant Survival

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Caption: Couples and friends tend to have overlapping personality traits, despite the well known saying “opposites attract.”
2016-17, Psychology

Finding Personality Similarities Within Friendships and Romantic Couples

Ericka Berman Previous research has shown that in close relationships, people tend to come from similar demographics. However, there is little known about personalities as measures of closeness. Wu Youyou Ph.D. et al. of Cambridge University aimed to examine personality similarities within romantic couples and friends. The researchers used Facebook to examine “Liked” pages and status updates to analyze language use. The study received data … Continue reading Finding Personality Similarities Within Friendships and Romantic Couples

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Figure 1: Using FTIR spectroscopy, researchers showed the presence of collagen in a 195-million- year-old fossilized rib.
2016-17, Biology

Ancient Collegen found in Early Jurassic Fossil

Meghan Bialt-DeCelie – ’19 The hints left in the form of fossils provide better understanding of evolution and natural preservation of biological material. The organic material, like proteins, would often be lost and decomposed, hence discovering soft tissue in a fossil is an intriguing find. Researchers led by Dr. Yao-Chang Lee were able to find preserved protein in a 195-million-year-old rib of a sauropodomorph dinosaur … Continue reading Ancient Collegen found in Early Jurassic Fossil

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Figure 1: Sleep is an essential part of considering memory and faster relearning.
2016-17, Psychology

Relearn Faster and Retain Longer

Ericka Berman As established, repetitive practice is necessary for knowledge retention. Sleep is also a contributing factor to new learning and memory consolidation. In this study, Dr. Mazza and the team of researchers recruited 40 participants ages 18-29 from University of Lyon, who were randomly assigned to one of two groups. For this study, participants were asked to remember 16 Swahili-French words pairs. Participants completed … Continue reading Relearn Faster and Retain Longer

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Caption: A mathematical model predicts sleep patterns impacted by artificial light and socially established schedules.
2016-17, Health

Model Predicts Sleep Patterns

Meghan Bialt-DeCelie – ’19 Rapid modernization has had an impact on the hours that humans are active, disrupting natural and established rhythms. A team led by Anne Skeldon, PhD, developed a mathematical model that shows the effect of factors like artificial light on the human circadian rhythm and sleeping habits. The mathematical model included three factors involved in sleep regulation: mutual inhibition of wake and … Continue reading Model Predicts Sleep Patterns

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