Category: Year

2017-18

What Dominates in Shaping Human Gut Microbiota?

By Maryna Mullerman ‘20 The human microbiome is thought to be shaped by many factors. Daphna Rothschild and researchers from Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel attempted to find the most important   determinant for the microbial composition of the human gut. They compared genetic and environmental factors that were thought to influence gut composition and utilized statistical measures to analyze them. The study recruited 1046 … Continue reading What Dominates in Shaping Human Gut Microbiota?

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2017-18

Functionally Different Smiles Cause Distinct Physiological Responses in Humans

By Maryna Mullerman ‘20 A smile is often associated with positive feedback and friendly gestures. Jared D. Martin and researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison aimed to reevaluate this nonverbal social tool. They suggested that there are three distinct smiles that could be encountered —  reward, affiliation, and dominance — with each smile playing a different role in human society. Verbal communication activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal … Continue reading Functionally Different Smiles Cause Distinct Physiological Responses in Humans

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2017-18

Synthetic Bioluminescence Allows Scientists to See Deep Tissues Using Cameras

By Marcia-Ruth Ndege ‘21 In this study, bioluminescence, the ability of a living organism to produce light, is made possible by luciferase: an enzyme derived from fireflies. The process by which luciferase catalyzes a substrate known as D-luciferin. This process generates a green-yellow glow. Atsushi Miyawaki of the RIKEN Brain Science Institute in Tokyo, in collaboration with members from the University of Electro-Communications, the Tokyo … Continue reading Synthetic Bioluminescence Allows Scientists to See Deep Tissues Using Cameras

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2017-18

Glutamate Consumption Linked to Chronic Pain

By Marcia-Ruth Ndege ’21 Chronic pain, defined as pain that lasts more than three months, is triggered by the activation of pain sensors in the body due to sustained firing of electrical signals from nerve cells. There are many known causes of chronic pain including nerve damage, past surgeries, and even headaches. A new pilot study conducted in Meru, Kenya, is looking to add the … Continue reading Glutamate Consumption Linked to Chronic Pain

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2017-18

Direct Connection Between Eye Movement Patterns and Memory Established

By Marcia-Ruth Ndege ‘21 For the first time in history, researchers have established a direct connection between eye movement patterns and brain activity. Using brain imaging technology, scientists from the Baycrest Rotman Research Institute (RRI) found evidence that the brain uses eye movements to help recreate vivid moments. Dr. Bradley Buchsbaum, a scientist at RRI and a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, … Continue reading Direct Connection Between Eye Movement Patterns and Memory Established

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2017-18

Money Can Buy Some Happiness

By Meenu Johnkutty ‘21 We’ve all heard the adage: money can’t buy happiness. This statement, however, may be only partly true: a recent study suggests that there is a level of monetary compensation that ensures emotional wellbeing and an even higher level that allows for satisfaction in life. This study was led by Andrew T. Jebb, a doctoral student in the Department of Psychological Sciences … Continue reading Money Can Buy Some Happiness

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2017-18

Lung Function Decline Found in Women Who Use Cleaning Products

By Meenu Johnkutty ‘21 The consistent use of cleaning products may be more dangerous than originally thought. Researchers from the American Thoracic Society recently published a study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine outlining the negative effects of using cleaning products on a daily basis. The researchers conducted their study with a subject pool of over 6,235 participants followed longitudinally over … Continue reading Lung Function Decline Found in Women Who Use Cleaning Products

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Figure 1. A meta-analysis of social media use.
2017-18

Social Media and Academic Achievement: Connections Explored

By Meenu Johnkutty ‘21 While logging onto Facebook during a study session might be one of your guilty pleasures, new research has shown that the link between social media use and academic performance may be more complicated than what comes to mind. Studies conducted on the relationship between academic performance and social media use often report contradictory results, with some stating that social media use … Continue reading Social Media and Academic Achievement: Connections Explored

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2017-18

What SIV can Teach us About HIV’s March Throughout the Body

By Matthew Lee ‘21 Ever since it made a global impact in the 1980s, HIV has increasingly become one of the world’s most studied diseases. However, the exact mechanisms that underlie vertical HIV-1 transmission have yet to be fully understood. A research team led by Dr. Angela M. Amedee of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center sought to investigate the early stages of HIV pathogenesis … Continue reading What SIV can Teach us About HIV’s March Throughout the Body

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2017-18

Treadmill Exercise Changes the Landscape of a Diseased Brain

By Matthew Lee ‘21 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases have debilitating effects on the elderly. AD is characterized by the buildup of proteins, subtype amyloid beta (Aβ), which form plaques and can contribute to Tau build up. However, there are multiple means by which to reduce the likelihood of developing AD. Several studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of exercise on mice with … Continue reading Treadmill Exercise Changes the Landscape of a Diseased Brain

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2017-18

Odor from a Rotten Egg Could Combat Hyperglycemia

By Matthew Lee ‘21 Modern industrialized countries are plagued by diseases that usually manifest their worst symptoms after many years. One such condition is hyperglycemia, in which high blood glucose may lead to diabetes and/or atherosclerosis. Jiaqiong Lin of Guangdong General Hospital and a team of researchers investigated how hydrogen sulfide (H2S) could protect human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) against injury from high glucose. … Continue reading Odor from a Rotten Egg Could Combat Hyperglycemia

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2017-18

Cellular regulation of tumorigenesis

By Matthew Lee ‘21 Scientists and students alike are often well aware that one of the immune system’s most important roles is fighting cancer. In this effort, dendritic cells are especially important; particularly important are conventional type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1). Dendritic cells are a type of immune cell. cDCs can present tumor antigens to T cells and attract T cells via the secretion of … Continue reading Cellular regulation of tumorigenesis

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