Chromatography Separates Cyclosporin Analogs
by Jenna Mallon (’18) In recent years, cyclic peptides have emerged as leaders in therapeutic drugs due to their in vivo stability and bioavailability. A class of specific cyclic peptides known as Cyclosporins has been effective in preventing rejection and infection in the body after organ transplants. The different analogs of Cyclosporin are very structurally similar, making separation extremely difficult. For this reason Yuefei Shao, … Continue reading Chromatography Separates Cyclosporin Analogs
A Step Toward Synthetic Cognition and Artificial Organs
by Aaron Gochman (’18) A team of researchers from Harvard, Stanford, and Sogang University in South Korea made headlines this week with a discovery that captures the future of bioengineering. Living cardiac muscle cells were taken from rats and printed onto a robot shaped like a sting ray. The cells were engineered to express proteins that activate in response to light; when activated, the cells … Continue reading A Step Toward Synthetic Cognition and Artificial Organs
The Relationship Between Thigh Muscle Volume and Functional Performance in Older Women
by Lillian Pao (’18) Sarcopenia, a stage in a person’s life during which they begin to lose muscle mass and function, commonly affects men and women above the age of 60. Muscles are often associated with strength, function, and power. However, the association amongst all of these characteristics is understudied. Dr. Ulrich Lindemann of Germany decided to investigate the association between thigh muscle volume and … Continue reading The Relationship Between Thigh Muscle Volume and Functional Performance in Older Women
Computer Simulation Offers Alternative Ways to Stop Disease in Schools
by Lillian Pao (’18) Pandemics and seasonal infectious diseases, such as the influenza virus, have drastic negative health and economic consequences. One particular intervention strategy, school closures, can result in significant economic impacts because parents or guardians have to temporarily leave the workforce in order to take care of their child. School closures because of an epidemic outbreak normally last for one to two weeks, … Continue reading Computer Simulation Offers Alternative Ways to Stop Disease in Schools
Predestination and the Influence of Religion on Science
by Lillian Pao (’18) Despite the contradictions science and religion have with one another, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim beliefs have recently been able influence current interpretations in biology. One of these interpretations concern the evolution of cave fauna. Several people believe that “biochemical predestination”, a higher power or strict law that governs the phenomena in nature on our earth, and possibly beyond, exists. Professor Aldemaro … Continue reading Predestination and the Influence of Religion on Science
A Possible Link Between Childhood Obesity and Intellectual Disorders
by Julia Newman (’19) According to a study recently published in the Disability and Health Journal, children with an intellectual disability (ID) are nearly twice as likely to develop obesity as those without ID. The researchers recorded weekly behaviors of children aged ten to seventeen years old, such as the frequency of family meals and exercise. The results displayed that children with ID ate consistent … Continue reading A Possible Link Between Childhood Obesity and Intellectual Disorders
The Strong Black Woman: How Stereotypes Can Affect Our Health
by Amanda Ng (’18) The way people are stereotyped can not only affect how others view us, but also how we view ourselves. This internalization of stereotypes and altered self-perception can lead to both mental and physical health problems for many individuals. In this study, conducted by Dr. Lindsey West of New England University, data was collected from 113 Black female college students aged 18 … Continue reading The Strong Black Woman: How Stereotypes Can Affect Our Health
The Factors That Impact a Dog’s Attention Span
by Julia Newman (’19) Researchers at the University of Padua in Italy conducted a study on attention spans in dogs and ended up discovering that both the level of training and sex of the dog impact this length of time. A total of sixty-four dogs of various levels of training were put through multiple tests in order to record data on the length of their … Continue reading The Factors That Impact a Dog’s Attention Span
How Birth Order Affects Social Relationships
by Amanda Ng (’18) Although much research has been done on birth-order and its affects on relationships, it has mostly focused on theories such as the “middle-child syndrome” and how birth order can affect siblings’ relationships. However, what has not been studied is the idea that a person’s birth order may also affect their prosociality, which is the degree to which a person acts in … Continue reading How Birth Order Affects Social Relationships
Restoring Function after Traumatic Brain Injuries
by Julia Newman (’19) Although there is currently no successful treatment for traumatic brain injuries, researchers at the University of California recently tested a new and promising method using human neural stem cells (hNSC), which have been found to be multipotent. Experiments in the past were performed solely on rats using immunosuppressant drugs in order to prevent transplant rejection, but this study found it more … Continue reading Restoring Function after Traumatic Brain Injuries
Positive Psychology Interventions May Enhance Happiness
by Amanda Ng (’18) In an effort to help those dealing with depression and enhance general happiness, recent psychological treatments have focused on advancing a field called “positive psychology”. “Positive psychology” focuses on strategies and intentional activities to enhance a person’s well-being by inducing positive emotions and behaviors. In this study, led by Dr. Sara Wellenzohn of the University of Zurich, Switzerland, a positive psychology … Continue reading Positive Psychology Interventions May Enhance Happiness
Mitochondria: Selective protein degradation ensures cellular longevity
by Aaron Gochman (’18) Mitochondria are known as the “powerhouse of the cell.” They provide energy and regulate important biological processes to ensure healthy metabolism and proper cellular function. Hence when mitochondrial dysfunction occurs, the cell is at great risk. A pair of researchers from University of Gothenburg in Sweden have characterized a pathway in which harmful mitochondrial proteins can be degraded without affecting normal … Continue reading Mitochondria: Selective protein degradation ensures cellular longevity
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