Kaitlyn

= Week 4: Stem Cells: the solution? = = [|Body attacks lab-made stem cells] = = [|Stem Cells Replace Stroke-Damaged Tissue In Rats] = = Studies with rats found that stem cells can be used to replace damaged tissue in rats. Hopes to use/reprogram stem cells to replace damaged tissue in humans, as the link below mentions: = = [|9. Can Stem Cells Repair a Damaged Heart] = = The first study mentioned will prove to be another complication scientists must overcome in their hopes to use stem cells to replace damaged tissue in humans, for example, the tissue around the heart. = =[|Stem Cell Research]=
 * A new study of mice suggests that stem cells created in the lab by reprogramming adult cells from a patient’s own body can come under attack from the immune system. **
 * These results may present a major barrier to using reprogrammed stem cells, called induced pluripotent stem cells or iPS cells, in treatments to repair or replace damaged tissues, the article states. **
 * Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, found that reprogrammed stem cells transplanted into genetically identical mice were killed in the same sort of immune attack that occurs during the rejection of transplanted organs. **
 * The picture above: T cells (brown) creep into tissues generated by reprogrammed stem cells (blue). This infiltration is the start of the type of tissue rejection seen in transplants.**

This link provides an overview for the other uses of stem cells for a variety of scientific purposes, research and more.
= = ===**[|New Safer Way Developed To Reprogram Stem Cells] **===

= = = Week 3: Optimism an Evolutionary Advantage? = = [|The Optimism Bias] =

**Some scientists now claim that optimism is hardwired into most of our brains due to evolution and that humans are inherently optimistic. The article above gives a full explanation.**
= **Some claim the benefits/advantages of this optimistic bias:** =

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**-A study of cancer patients revealed that pessimistic patients under the age of 60 were more likely to die within eight months than nonpessimistic patients of the same initial health, status and age.** =====

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**-Researchers studying heart-disease patients found that optimists were more likely than nonoptimistic patients to take vitamins, eat low-fat diets and excercise, thereby reducing their overall coronary risk.** =====

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**- Scientists also found an inconsistency of human memory and its function to work with future scenarios as well as the past. A survey conducted around the country showed that 11 months fter the attacks, individuals' recollections of their experience that day were consistent with their initial accounts (given september 2011) only 63% of the time** =====

= __**Benefits of positivity:**__ = = [|Brain study links negative emotions and lowered immunity] =

== Scientists have came to the conclusion that negative emotions actually lower immunity. In a study done with the Influenza virus with colleges at University of Wisconsin and Princeton University, patients were asked to write their happiest and worst memories on a piece of paper. During this autobiographical task, the electrical activity of the brain was measured. The subjects were then given flu shots and their antibody levels were measured after two weeks, four weeks and six months. The researcher found a clear link between strong activity in the left PFC and a large rise in antibodies, and vice versa == = =

**Want to know more about how our brain works in general? This link from Standford University covers a wider range of interesting topics dealing with psychology and the science of the brain.**

** [|EMOTION CIRCUITS IN THE BRAIN] **
= = = = = week 2: = = I NEED CAFFIENE! = == We all know what it is like to be sleep deprived, and we all know one option to dealing with this rather than sleeping: caffeine. Caffeine has many different effects on our bodies, both beneficial and bad. However as much as we "need" caffeine, recently scientists have discovered a new type of bacteria that quite literally needs caffeine to survive, and not just to stay awake late into the night! Scientists posit that this discovery could even lead to new pharmaceuticals. == ==**[|Newly Found Species of Bacteria Lives On Pure Caffeine Discovery could lead to new pharmaceuticals] **==

According to the American Society for Microbiology, byproducts of the caffeine breakdown process are natural building blocks for drugs used to treat asthma, improve blood flow and stabilize heart arrhythmias. These compounds are hard to produce in the lab, so using the bacteria’s special enzymes could simplify pharmaceutical production. (see article above)
 * //Pseudomonas putida//**, uses specialized enzymes to break the precious compound into carbon dioxide and ammonia

How caffeine can negatively affect the human body and the side effects it brings with it:
===**[|Caffeine and Naps: The Fight Against Sleep Deprivation] **===

===[|Studies Illuminate Caffeine's Connection to Cancer] Some scientists are even doing studies exploring a possible connection between caffeine and cancer===

The Effects of a Vegetarian Diet
**How this impacts the Environment and how a Vegan Diet Also relates to sustainability: ** **This report talks about the effects of agriculture and food consumption, specifically livestock, and how it can impact the environment, sustainability, and resources (water, food, emissions) **

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** The Effects of a Vegetarian Diet on Human Health: **
====On Friday, the guest speaker informed us about the conditions of modern factory farms and an alternative to eating the meat products they produce: changing to a vegetarian diet. However, while it is a good way to show disapproval of these farms' methods/conditions, what is the effect on a human's health in changing to a vegetarian diet? (Either for better or for worse). The point of eating (from a biological stanpoint) is to obtain all of the energy and nutrients we need to function, so what is known about how excluding meat from what we eat changing that in any way, if any?====

[|A vegetarian diet is a meal plan that contains little or no animal products.] This gives a good overview about what vegetarianism is and what to be carful about concerning nutrition (specifically protein intake) [|Health effects of vegetarian and vegan diets.] Gives background on nutrient/vitamin amounts in the vegetarian diet vs. carnivorous
 * The following articles give insight to some possible health effects of changing to a vegetarian lifestyle:**
 * Overview:**

[|Effects of meat consumption and vegetarian diet] Study that supports adequate protein intake is obtainable with a vegetarian diet. [|The Truth about Protein and Calcium] This article also explains how protein intake in vegetarian diets is just as sufficient as those through meats, mentioning several studies. **Explores effects of vegetarian diet in some sports:** [|Effect of Vegetarian Diets on Performance in Strength Sports] This article explores reports that suggest many successful endurance athletes are vegetarians whereas few reports suggest that elite strength athletes follow a vegetarian diet. Strength and power athletes almost invariably include meat in their diets, although it is unclear whether the benefits of meat consumption for strength and power are real or imagined. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">** It would seem that despite concerns of problems with vegetarian diets and health/adequate nutrition, vegetarian diets provide a sufficient source for humans. **
 * Support that Vegetarian Diets are a healthy and sufficient diet to obtain all of the nutrients/protein and vitamins we need:**