Weighing In The Evidence: Lifestyle Modification In The Treatment Of Atrial Fibrillation

Imagine if you suddenly felt your heart “jumping out of your chest” – this is the case for an estimated 1 in 4 Canadians who experience this rapid and chaotic heartbeat characteristic of atrial brillation (AF). The healthy heart works continuously to beat regularly under the control of electrical impulses originating from the sinoatrial (SA) node, the heart’s natural pacemaker. In AF, electrical impulses do not originate in the SA node, but rather, from a different part of the atrium or in nearby pulmonary veins. These abnormal electrical signals become rapid and disorganized, radiating throughout the atrial walls in an uncoordinated manner. This can cause the walls of the atrium to quiver, or brillate, which results in irregular electrical transmission from the atria to the ventricles. A normal heart rate at rest should be between 60-100 beats per minute at rest, but in AF, it can be considerably higher than 140 beats per minute1. Affecting more than 33 million individuals worldwide, AF is the most common sustained irregular heart rhythm encountered in clinical practice2. The progression and maintenance of AF results in adverse events, including an increase in hospitalizations and a ve-fold increase in the risk of stroke3. Given this evidence and anticipated increases in life expectancy within the next several decades, there are clear public health implications for the aging Canadian population

A Comparison of Particulate Matter Exposures Between a Student’s Private Vehicle and Public Bus Transit Commutes

Daily commuters of public transportation and private vehicles are exposed to a wide range of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP). However, evidence of differences between commuting method has been building. In this study, the personal ultrafine particle (UFP) and black carbon (BC) air pollution exposures of a high school student were measured during their daily commute. In total, 39 commutes made between the student’s home and school were measured. These commutes were either by bus or private vehicle. Data was analysed using box plots and T-tests of statistical significance. Levels of BC were not significantly higher on buses (mean(SD) = 849(645) ng/m3) than cars (650(689) ng/m3) (p-value = 0.199). For UFP, levels were significantly higher for bus commutes (9393(6923) pts/cm3) than those of private vehicle (4234(6446) pts/cm3) (p-value = 0.045). Our findings suggest that bus commuters may experience higher exposure to UFP relative to private vehicle commuters. The higher UFP exposure may be accounted by the fact that city buses can have a higher air exchange rate due to the constant opening of doors.  As well, buses are mainly diesel vehicles, which are a strong source of UFP.

The Effects of Vascular Cognitive Impairment on the Thickness of the Granular Cell Layer of the Dentate Gyrus within the Hippocampus in a Mouse Model

     Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI) is a form of dementia, most prevalent after Alzheimer’s Disease. However, VCI remains the second leading cause for dementia because it restricts blood flow to the brain and there are currently no treatments. There has been a positive correlation between VCI and hippocampal atrophy reported. Diet such as deficiencies in folic acid, is a modifiable risk factor for neurodegeneration. In the present study, a mouse model of VCI was combined with a deficiency in folic acid to assess hippocampal morphology. Animals were split into 4 experimental groups where they were placed into a control diet (CD) or folic acid deficient diet (FADD), and later these animals either had microcoils implanted around their common carotid arteries to model VCI or a sham, control surgery.  For hippocampal morphological analysis, the thickness of the granular cell layer of the dentate gyrus within the hippocampus was measured. It was hypothesized that a mouse model of VCI with microcoil treatment and reduced levels of folic acid would reduce blood flow, and increase cell death resulting in a reduced thickness of the granular cell layer within the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Our results show that thickness had an increasing trend in the in the FADD microcoil group. These data suggest that there may be an additional factor coming into play such as compensation by neural stem cells that needs to be further researched

Bacteriophage GH15: Developing A Novel Weapon Against MRSA

In recent years, numerous bacterial species have developed antibiotic resistance due to the overuse of antibiotics in the home, health care setting, and in agriculture. Alternative methods of treatment, including phage therapy (PT), have been proposed as solutions to this problem. PT is showing promise as an alternative method of treatment against the bacteria methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA is a virulent and antibiotic resistant bacterium capable of causing infections of the skin, respiratory system, and various other body systems. In this research proposal, we propose investigating the use of the Staphylococcal bacteriophage (phage) GH15 as a therapeutic agent against MRSA infections due to its broad host range, its lack of bacterial virulence genes, and its strong ability to lyse various strains of MRSA. Specifically, we propose to evaluate the tail fibre genes of GH15 contributing to the phage’s host range, in addition to the ability of the phage to induce antiphage humoral immune responses in human cells, in the interest of exploring GH15 as a therapeutic agent for use in PT, specifically against MRSA.

A review of the ecological effects of European Common Reed (Phragmites australis) on fishes and fish habitat in North America

The invasive European Common Reed (Phragmites australis), first established in North America in the early 1900’s, is now a dominant emergent aquatic plant in many coastal and inland wetlands. A review of the literature was conducted to evaluate the extent of ecological impacts on fishes and their habitat, such as changes in the composition and abundance of native fishes and wetland plants, and alterations to water availability and substrate. The review indicated that a reduction in the abundance of native fishes was common (54.54% of studies), as were impacts to fish habitat (e.g., 54.54% of studies documented a change in wetland plant composition). Many studies were conducted in the eastern and northern United States, which showed that the abundance of juvenile and larval fishes was significantly lower in marshes dominated by P. australis, relative to those dominated by native plant species (Spartina alterniflora); however, changes to wetland plant abundance and composition, water availability, water temperature, nutrient cycling, substrate, reproduction and spawning, genetics of native fishes, and general food web effects were also observed. These results indicate that P. australis poses numerous ecological impacts to the structure and function of wetland habitats, with implications for the ongoing productivity of aquatic ecosystems.

What It Takes To Fly: Exploring The Effect Of Variant Propeller Pitches And Lengths On The Efficiency Of Propeller-Powered Hover Boards

This paper details the modeling of a propeller-powered hover board and provides an investigation into how the pitch and diameter of the propellers impacts the efficiency of the device. Hover boards are a potentially valuable technology, and the most accessible means of producing lift on hover boards is with propellers. It is important to understand how the pitch and diameter of a propeller impact the amount of weight a hover board can lift, but due to the overwhelming range of propellers that exist, it is difficult to choose the most efficient variation. Thus, we determine a propeller’s maximum upward force at a given current and the effect of pitch and diameter on its performance to ultimately forward the development of this technology. A testing apparatus was constructed to investigate each propeller and measure both the maximum mass the propeller could lift, as well as the current that was drawn at this maximum point. Our results found that the propellers with a greater pitch were more efficient when their diameter was greater and the propellers with a smaller pitch were more efficient when their diameter was smaller. Through extrapolating using the trend line, it is possible to calculate how many 3.8-pitch or 6-pitch propellers of any diameter would be needed to lift a human being. Through these equations, if the diameter of a 3.8-inch pitch or 6-inch pitch propeller is known, then the maximum lift and the current drawn to achieve said lift can be found. Future investigation into these trends over a greater range of propeller diameters and pitches is recommended in order to gather more conclusive results. Cet article discute de la modélisation d’un aéroglisseur propulsé par une hélice, et fournit une enquête de l’effet du pas et du diamètre des hélices sur l’efficacité de l’appareil. Les aéroglisseurs sont une technologie potentiellement valable, et la façon la plus accessible à produire de la portance sur les aéroglisseurs est l’utilisation d’hélices. Il est important de comprendre l’impact du pas et du diamètre sur la quantité de poids que l’aéroglisseur peut soulever, mais à cause de la gamme écrasante d’hélices qui existe, il est difficile de choisir la variation la plus efficace. Donc, une expérience fut créée pour déterminer la portance maximale d’une hélice avec un certain courant et l’effet du pas et du diamètre sur sa performance, menant en fin de compte au progrès dans le développement de cette technologie. Un model d’expérimentation a été construit pour évaluer chaque hélice et mesurer le poids maximale qu’il peut supporter, ainsi que le courant maximale à ce point. Nos résultats montrent que les hélices avec un pas plus grand étaient plus efficaces lorsque leur diamètre était plus grand, alors que les hélices avec un pas plus petit étaient plus efficaces lorsque leur diamètre était plus petit. En extrapolant les données en utilisant la ligne de tendance, il est possible de déterminer combien d’hélices d’un pas de 3,8 pouces ou de 6 pouces, de n’importe quel diamètre, seraient requises pour soulever un être humain. Avec ces calculs, si le diamètre d’une hélice d’un pas de 3,8 pouces ou d’une hélice d’un pas de 6 pouces est connu, la portance maximale et le courant requis pour atteindre cette portée peuvent être déterminés. Une investigation future dans ces tendances à travers une gamme plus large de diamètres et de pas d’hélices est recommandée afin de recueillir des résultats plus concluants.

Don’t Miss Out on Research Opportunities

The Student Science and Technology Online Research Co-op Program provides mentors, including myself, an opportunity to further develop their mentoring skills, and to play a role in educating the next generation of scientists. This semester, I am mentoring my third student through the Co-op Program in the area of genetics and neuroscience. I have always loved teaching, especially teaching genetics, and have been thrilled to pass on my enthusiasm and knowledge to students by guiding them through their research projects. Mentors play a critical role. They can pass on their passion about the subject, promote curiosity and questioning, and offer the right balance between constructive criticism on projects, and words of encouragement. I am fortunate to have had (and continue to have) superb mentors throughout my science education and career who fit the above criteria, and I strive to be like them as a mentor in the Co-op Program. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of early exposure to research opportunities. My own educational research experiences had a profound effect on me choosing to pursue a career in research. For example, in my last year of undergraduate studies, I received offers to pursue three diverse pathways: optometry school, a Masters of Teaching Program, and a research-based graduate program. I had several early exposure to research; one of which, was an independent research project in Grade 12 Biology on the relationship between height and stride length in human adults compared to measurements from the fossil record of Homo sapiens’ predecessors. Another research experience was during my fourth-year of undergraduate studies when I participated in an undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. I investigated parent- of-origin expression bias, which assesses whether a gene inherited from one parent is expressed more often than the gene inherited from the other parent, in a set of genes related to a rare neurodevelopmental disorder. It was these positive experiences with scientific research that led me to a research-based graduate program and career in statistical genetic research as a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan.The articles in this issue demonstrate the skills, knowledge and passion gained by these Co-op students in specialized and interdisciplinary fields of research. The Student Science and Technology Online Research Co-op Program provides students with a wonderful opportunity to get exposed to the research and publication process, gain scientific literacy, as each field of science has its vocabulary to be mastered, and also hopefully instill a desire for lifelong learning.

Modelling neurodevelopment, neurodegeneration, and amyloid beta aggregation in the context of Alzheimer's using COBWEB

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease. It is a growing concern, demanding the attention of families, scientists, and pharmaceutical companies due to its devastating impacts on patients. The disease is believed to be triggered by pathogenic amyloid beta protein (Aβ) formations in the brain. In order to understand the protein production and the plaque formation in the AD brain, we specifically focused on the ‘Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis,’ which explains the biological pathways and the players in the disease. Focusing on the macro-side, we modelled the progression of AD from neurodevelopment (healthy brain) to neurodegeneration (the disease state) by using the agent based computer simulation program called COBWEB. Our model begins with healthy, developing neurons thriving in the hippocampus and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) working efficiently. The brain ages throughout the adulthood phase. The onset of the disease and its progression is modelled with plaque formation, a decline in neuron counts, and an inefficient cleaning mechanism close to the end of the experiment. We conclude that our model fulfills its purpose: to provide a visual contrast between health and disease through the slow progression of AD in real time, increasing one’s understanding of this illness. Its accuracy is attributed to Aβ plaque formation, neuronal death, and CSF deterioration. Future projects include testing, designing, and refining new treatments using this model, diminishing the barrier to entry for new ideas, and providing a new tool for teaching AD.La maladie d’Alzheimer (MA) est une maladie neurodégénérative. Elle est un souci croissant, exigeant l’attention des familles, des scientifiques et des sociétés pharmaceutiques en raison de ses effets dévastateurs sur les patients. Nous pensons que la maladie est provoquée par la formation pathogénique de la protéine bêta amyloïde (Aß) dans le cerveau. Afin de comprendre la production de la protéine et la formation de plaques dans le cerveaud’un patient atteint de MA, nous avons mis l’accent spécifiquement sur l’hypothèse de la cascade amyloïde, ce qui explique les voies biologiques et les acteurs impliqués dans la maladie. En nous concentrant sur la macroscopie, nous avons modélisé la progression de la MA du début du neurodéveloppement (le cerveau en bonne santé) à la neurodégénérescence (l’état de la maladie) en utilisant le programme de simulation numérique basé sur un agent appelé COBWEB. Notre modèle commence avec des neurones qui se développent normalement, grandissant dans l’hippocampe et le liquide céphalo-rachidien (LCR) et travaillant efficacement. Le cerveau vieillit tout au long de la phase adulte. L’apparition de la maladie et de sa progression est modélisée avec la formation des plaques, une diminution du nombre neurones, et un mécanisme de nettoyage inefficace près de la fin. Nous concluons que notre modèle répond à son but de fournir un contraste visuel entre la santé et la maladie à travers la lente progression de la MA en temps réel, ce qui augmente notre compréhension de la MA. Sa précision est attribuée à la formation de plaques Aß, la mort neuronale et la détérioration du LCR. Les projets futurs incluent des tests, la conception et le raffinage de nouveaux traitements en utilisant ce modèle, ce qui diminue la barrière à l’entrée pour de nouvelles idées, et de fournir un nouvel outil pour enseigner la MA

Of circular symmetry and signified spirituality

Arts and Scienc