Chronic Fatigue Syndrome May Just Be a Case of Persistent Burnout
by Jenna Mallon (’18) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) affects .0007 to 2.8% of the adult population and can be highly debilitating. Unfortunately, its etiology is unknown. The two current theories, the cognitive behavioral theory and the viral theory, do not fully explain the occurrence of certain symptoms of the syndrome. Current research focuses on dysfunction in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which can lead to hypocortisolism … Continue reading Chronic Fatigue Syndrome May Just Be a Case of Persistent Burnout
Complexin induces a conformational change of the SNARE complex
by Aaron Gochman (’18) Intercellular communication in the central nervous system occurs at a synapse, the gap between two neurons. The presynaptic neuron releases a chemical messenger known as a neurotransmitter, which diffuses across the synapse and relays the signal to the postsynaptic cell. The process of releasing the neurotransmitter from the presynaptic cell is quite complicated. The mechanism includes packing the neurotransmitter inside a … Continue reading Complexin induces a conformational change of the SNARE complex
Researchers Find Correlation Between Pollen Storages and Foraging Activity
by Jenna Mallon (’18) A lot goes on inside the hives of Apis mellifera, commonly known as the western honeybee, to keep the colony of bees alive and healthy. Forager bees work outside the hive to collect water, pollen, nectar, and resin: all of which are necessary for the survival of the bees. Collecting pollen and understanding the behavior and action of forager bees has … Continue reading Researchers Find Correlation Between Pollen Storages and Foraging Activity
Dual Threat: DLK as a Novel Role Player in Axonal Regeneration
by Aaron Gochman (’18) Axonal regeneration is a branch of neuroscience on the cutting edge; re-growing injured neurons is a technique that, once refined, will fundamentally change the landscape of nervous system therapies. A team of researchers from University of Michigan, Washington University in St. Louis, and University of Pennsylvania have discovered a key intracellular pathway in axonal regeneration that is conserved in both Drosophila, … Continue reading Dual Threat: DLK as a Novel Role Player in Axonal Regeneration
The Origin of Dogs Traces Back to Two Separate Locations
by Jenna Mallon (’18) Although it is a common fact that domestic dogs originated from wolves, there are still speculations concerning the geographical and temporal origins of man’s best friend. There are disagreements over when and where dogs were domesticated. Despite evidence that points to the Paleolithic Era, some archeologists argue that dogs could have been independently domesticated in two separate regions: Eastern and Western … Continue reading The Origin of Dogs Traces Back to Two Separate Locations
How Bilingualism Affects Children’s Learning
by Lillian Pao (’18) There are 6,500 spoken languages around the world and the most popular language is Mandarin Chinese, which uses vocal pitch to create tone. Tone is used in the English language to distinguish questions, statements, and other elements of emotional states. Children who are learning two languages have to learn how words are defined in both of their native languages. There are … Continue reading How Bilingualism Affects Children’s Learning
Chromosomal Studies Lead to Advancements for Alzheimer’s Disease
by Sahil Rawal (’19) Alzheimer’s disease is a well-known neurodegenerative disease that commonly affects people of older age. Although scientists have been able to connect different lifestyle factors with the onset of Alzheimer’s, the basic molecular mechanisms are still not completely understood. Currently, there are many ongoing studies that aim to gain more information on Alzheimer’s disease and the etiologies behind the devastating disease. Studies … Continue reading Chromosomal Studies Lead to Advancements for Alzheimer’s Disease
The Secret Behind Increased Wisdom
by Lillian Pao (’18) There is no concrete definition of wisdom. However, there are some repetitive themes that encompass the idea of wisdom, such as the use of knowledge from an experience, careful decision-making, and lowered anxiety during complex situations. In a recent study, professors of the University of Chicago concluded that there may be a connection between somatic, or physical, practices and wisdom. Although … Continue reading The Secret Behind Increased Wisdom
Swimming Pools May Be Mutagenic
By Sahil Rawal (’19) Swimming pools are known to contain many disinfectant products such as chlorine to keep the water safe to swim in. However, studies have recently found that these disinfectants release byproducts that could eventually react with organic matter already present in the water, such as human urine or sweat. These released byproducts have already been found to cause cases of asthma and … Continue reading Swimming Pools May Be Mutagenic
The Moon and its Effects on Sleep and Behavior
By Lillian Pao (’18) For centuries, the mythical powers of the moon and its influence over human behavior have fascinated mankind. Because of this fascination, an international group of scientists decided to test whether the lunar phases affected children’s sleeping patterns. The full moon, half moon, and new moon were the three lunar phases that were tested. Over … Continue reading The Moon and its Effects on Sleep and Behavior
The Health Consequences of Eating Potatoes
by Sahil Rawal (’19) Potatoes have been a staple in our diet for a very long time; they were recently added to the US healthy meals program after they were shown to increase potassium levels and lower blood pressure. Despite this, the effect of increased consumption of potatoes on blood pressure is still unclear. As a result, researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital decided … Continue reading The Health Consequences of Eating Potatoes
How Childhood Trauma May Be Surmounted
by Julia Newman ’19 Past studies display that children exposed to traumatic experiences, such as death of a family member, are prone to developing not only mental issues, but also issues concerning their physical health. However, more recent research proves that these traumas, also known as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and their effects can be overcome if the children are living in a healthy environment. This study, conducted by … Continue reading How Childhood Trauma May Be Surmounted
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