Volume 1, Issue 3
Published on December 30, 2011
Adderall Abuse and its Implications for the College Academic Community
A psychostimulant typically prescribed to patients with attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) or narcolepsy, Adderall has found additional followers within college campuses. Adderall abuse is becoming increasingly popular among college students since the drug accommodates the basic college lifestyle of studying, doing all-nighters, and partying. Adderall functions by increasing mental concentration, alertness, and energy. However, Adderall use holds a high risk for dependence and addiction. Structurally similar to euphoria-inducing neurotransmitters such as dopamine and epinephrine, the compounds in Adderall function like these homologs. The implications of Adderall abuse are many and include both biological and social aspects. - Nahel Kapadia. Published on December 30, 2011.
Preserving the Past for the Sake of the Present: The Science Behind Art Conservation
Art conservation refers to the techniques used to maintain and preserve the appearance and cultural heritage of artwork. As technological advances change our environment, art pieces have become subject to negative factors, such as high temperatures and increased pollution. Museums have implemented measures to protect their items from such changes. Conservation methods are used to clean and maintain artwork that has undergone varying degrees of damage. While some of these processes involve direct contact with art pieces, scientific advancements have allowed conservators to clean and preserve artwork through minimally invasive methods. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique vary based on type of art undergoing conservation. - Hannah Friesen. Published on December 30, 2011.
Anti-FIV Gene Therapy: Lighting the Way to an AIDS Cure
The worldwide Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) epidemic has infected over 30 million people throughout the world. After exiting its dormant stage, the AIDS-causing Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) interferes with the body's ability to fight oncoming infections by infecting immune cells. Since HIV is a rapidly mutating virus, modern anti-HIV drugs have not provided an absolute cure since they cannot target all HIV mutants and also have side-effects. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic studying the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), an analog of HIV, have used gene therapy to enables cats to produce anti-FIV proteins. Similar gene therapy-based techniques can be used to target and inhibit HIV more effectively. - Victoria Saadat. Published on December 30, 2011.
The Black Death – Alive Once Again?
The Black Death wrecked havoc across Asia, Europe, and Africa during the 1340's and even wiped out about half of London's population. The plague continues to kill thousands of people every year even though modern antibiotics and vaccines have lowered the mortality rate. While the modern plague has been associated with the bacterium Yersinia pestis, much controversy has been stirred over whether this bacterium is responsible for causing the ancient Black Death epidemic. However, in 2011, new sequencing technology and molecular techniques allowed a team of scientists to confirm the involvement of Y. pestis in the plague, both in past and today. - Nicole Runkle. Published on December 30, 2011.
