Category: 2016-17

2016-17, Genetics, Medicine and Physiology

Norepinephrine Transporter in Major Depressive Disorder: A PET Study

    Ericka Berman Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating illness characterized by low mood and loss of interest in activities. In MDD, the neurotransmitter norepinephrine is believed to be dysregulated, contributing to the depressive symptoms. The goal of this study was to test norepinephrine transporter availability in patients with MDD in attempt to identify potential associations with clinical symptoms. Previous studies have looked … Continue reading Norepinephrine Transporter in Major Depressive Disorder: A PET Study

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2016-17, Interview

Interview with Student Researcher Josh Farr

Interviewer: Benjamin Kerner Interviewed: Josh Farr   B: For the record, what is your name, major, and department? J: Joshua Farr, Chemistry major, and chemistry department B: And what is the name of your research lab? J: I work in the Laughlin group under Dr. Scott Laughlin. B: So how did you get into research and what inspired you to do so? J: It was … Continue reading Interview with Student Researcher Josh Farr

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2016-17, Medicine and Physiology

Medicinal Properties Discovered in Certain Toad Species

By Rideeta Raquib ’19 Traditional medicinal compounds utilized to treat various diseases, ranging from stomach disorders to some types of cancers, are common in toads, specifically the Bufonidae family.  Scientists at the University of Panama, Panama’s government research center INDICASAT AIP, Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, and Acharya Nagarjuna University in Guntur, India, came together to identify several chemical components of the traditional medicines acquired from … Continue reading Medicinal Properties Discovered in Certain Toad Species

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Figure 1. Children from the age of six already think that men are smarter than women
2016-17, Psychology

Are Men Smarter than Women?

By Megan Tan ‘19 Gender stereotypes commonly associate intellectual brilliance with men. These stereotypes explain the gender imbalances in fields typically associated with brilliance, like physics and mathematics. Lin Bian, a graduate student from the University of Illinois, set out to find the origin of this stereotype. It was found that by the age of six, girls are less likely to associate their gender with … Continue reading Are Men Smarter than Women?

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2016-17, Biology

Fat Metabolism Activated by Brain Hormone

By Rideeta Raquib ’19 The central nervous system is essential in regulating different parts of the body. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), a neuromodulator, has been related to feeding and metabolizing, as well as burning fat. Biologists at the Scripps Research Institute set out to identify a neuropeptide ligand and its cognate receptor that makes up the 5-HT neuroendocrine axis. The study was conducted on a roundworm … Continue reading Fat Metabolism Activated by Brain Hormone

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Figure 1. VO2, vanadium dioxide, is a metal that can conduct electricity without conducting heat.
2016-17, Chemistry

Vanadium Dioxide Conducts Electricity, But Not Heat

By Megan Tan ‘19 Thermal and electrical conductivity need to be proportional in electrical conductive solids. Although several metals can conduct electricity better than they can conduct heat, this phenomenon has only been known to occur at extreme temperatures. However, a recent study led by Professor Junqiao Wu from the University of California, Berkeley and his team of researchers has found that metallic vanadium dioxide … Continue reading Vanadium Dioxide Conducts Electricity, But Not Heat

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2016-17, Biology, Medicine and Physiology

Hearing Restoration Via Gene Delivery

By Rideeta Raquib ’19 Inner ear disease disrupts a key sense of hearing for many people worldwide. However, gene therapy can treat inner ear disease if reagents are introduced into appropriate cells. A group of researchers from Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Hospital managed to effectively restore hearing in mice by utilizing gene therapy. The inefficacy of vectors transferred into hair cells is a … Continue reading Hearing Restoration Via Gene Delivery

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2016-17, Psychology

Psychopaths May Have Lower than Average Intelligence

by Megan Tan ’19 It is questionable whether psychopaths have a higher or lower IQ than the average human. Previous researchers have investigated the relationship between psychopathy and IQ because there are links to antisocial behavior, violence, and criminal involvement. However, the results have been inconsistent: some studies have demonstrated a negative relationship between the two, whereas others have demonstrated a positive one. To clarify … Continue reading Psychopaths May Have Lower than Average Intelligence

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2016-17, Health

Chicoric Acid Supplementation May Prevent Memory Loss

Patrick Yang ’20 Chicoric acid, a common component in chicory and edible plants, such as lettuce and basil, is a known antioxidant that has anti-HIV and anti-obesity qualities. It can also reduce inflammation caused by high-fat diets and is rapidly distributed to tissues, including the brain, after ingestion. Because of its anti-inflammatory trait and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, it may be able to … Continue reading Chicoric Acid Supplementation May Prevent Memory Loss

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2016-17, Biology

Inhibition of RAD51 Repair Protein Enhances Radiotherapy

Patrick Yang ‘20 Despite intensive radiotherapy and treatment, glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, is often fatal. It is widely believed that a subgroup of glioblastoma cells, called glioblastoma stem cells, is responsible for treatment resistance because the cancer’s DNA damage response is localized in these cells. The discovery and manipulation of the mechanism for the upregulation of DNA damage response in glioblastoma stem … Continue reading Inhibition of RAD51 Repair Protein Enhances Radiotherapy

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2016-17, Medicine and Physiology

New Blood Test Detects Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Patrick Yang ’20 Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), commonly known as the human form of mad cow disease, is a neurodegenerative condition that is transmitted from infected cattle to humans. The disease’s long incubation stage allows for an asymptomatic period when prions, or infectious proteins, multiply in the brain with no sign of infection. On average, infected individuals die one to two years after onset of … Continue reading New Blood Test Detects Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

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2016-17, Psychology

Having Older Siblings May Change Symptoms of Autism

By Amanda Ng ’17 Children of all ages, regardless of their development, are affected by their relationships with their siblings. This is also true of children with autism, a life-long disorder that causes social deficits. Although autism can cause children to have trouble interacting in social settings, some previous research has suggested that having siblings can increase their social communication skills, causing them to act … Continue reading Having Older Siblings May Change Symptoms of Autism

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