It is generally accepted that the Earth has been irreversibly altered by an ever-growing human population. Indeed, we now refer to our current geologic period as the Anthropocene, to stress the great anthropogenic pressure on the planets atmosphere, geology, and biological diversity. In the face of threats such as habitat loss, pollution, and urban and agricultural expansion, it is easy to feel discouraged about the future prospect of the worlds ecosystems and biodiversity. However, scientists and conservationists have a choice about how to approach their mission to preserve existing habitats and rehabilitate those already in a state of degradation.

While much of the rhetoric surrounding the Anthropocene has been markedly negative, there has recently been a push by many scientists for a more positive narrative. Specifically, researchers are posing the question: can the Anthropocene be good? A good Anthropocene would balance the preservation of the natural world with realistic societal needs and consumption.

Recent research supports the value of a hopeful, rather than doom and gloom, perspective for rallying individuals to action. Messages of optimism are thought to be necessary to broadly engage the public and to attract youth to professional careers in the field of conservation biology. This makes intuitive senseif experts are constantly heard saying that all is lost, it is difficult to expect anyone to be motivated to change their behaviour.

The field of conservation biology is made up of a diversity of scientists and practitioners that use tools such as genetics, physiology, modelling, demographics, psychology, and social science. All of these branches have the capacity to contribute positive and progressive approaches to conservation science. Conservation physiology, one of the more recent, formally conceptualized sub-disciplines, is actively contributing to and proposing avenues for the good Anthropocene movement. Specifically, these pathways focus on taking a proactive approach to conservation, encouraging a pragmatic perspective when approaching conservation dilemmas, establishing an appreciation for environmental resilience, and being active in public outreach and policy-building. Establishing these four avenues as goals will allow conservation professionals to solve conservation problems through evidence-based conservation, better-populated models, an appreciation of the mechanisms underlying population declines, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and a well-informed public.

One example of how this multi-faceted approach can tackle a large-scale conservation problem is well-illustrated by research on clownfish (Amphiprion percula) in the Great Barrier Reef. Firstly, conservation physiology researchers are contributing to proactive conservation by applying knowledge of the respiratory physiology and microbiome of the fish to plan coastal development, determine vulnerability, predict how sediments from dredging may influence populations, and assess the potential for acclimation. The work is also underpinned by pragmatism. There is an appreciation that development is continuing and tactics are needed to diminish the associated impacts as much as possible. By taking an experimental approach aimed at determining threshold levels of suspended sediments that alter fish assemblage patterns, the timing of dredging can be sensitively adjusted to avoid interference with coral and reef fish spawning. As much of the work focuses on establishing thresholds, it also incorporates an appreciation of resilience and aims to determine when the capacity to cope with environmental change may be surpassed. Finally, researchers also made outreach a priority and took advantage of the publics familiarity with clownfish in Disneys Finding Nemo to garner attention about the impacts of habitat alteration on the respiratory health of these native fishes. As a whole, this physiological work has been contributing to evidence-based conservation and restoration plans that help to achieve a better Anthropocene.

Individuals trying to shine a positive light on the Anthropocene believe that leveraging technologies, knowledge, and passionate individuals can accomplish the tasks necessary to maintain nature in perpetuity. As we continue to develop new research foci, attempt to attract new students to our fields, and dedicate ourselves to the preservation of nature, we will do well to remember that conservation is ultimately an act of hope.

Featured image credit:Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Great barrier reef by Wise Hok Wai Lum. CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

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In search of a good Anthropocene? Physiology can help - OUPblog (blog)

SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES

This fall, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will launch a unique undergraduate aerospace physiology program in collaboration with Florida Hospital for students who want to advance medical research and promote the health and well-being of pilots, astronauts, flight crew members and air or space travelers.

Embry-Riddle has partnered with Florida Hospital to offer the new Bachelor of Science program in aerospace physiology. The program will be one of the first of its kind in the country. (COURTESY OF EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY)

The Daytona Beach-based program is believed to be the first undergraduate program of its kind in the nation.

The new Bachelor of Science program, to be housed within Embry-Riddles Department of Human Factors, will offer real-world experience in clinical settings, thanks to a partnership with the six Florida Hospitals located in Volusia and Flagler counties.

Patient-care techniques Florida Hospital will help design the curriculum, exposing students to advanced patient-care techniques and clinical instrumentation. In addition, Florida Hospital will provide a unique clinical experience by supporting two practicum clinical courses.

As a former airline pilot, Florida Hospital Fish Memorial CEO Rob Deininger was an initial proponent of the aerospace physiology program.

Prior to joining Florida Hospital, I spent 13 years as a commercial airline pilot, logging more than 8,500 hours of flight time, Deininger said. We are really excited to have the opportunity to support Embry-Riddle in launching this new undergraduate program, right here in our own backyard.

It is a unique program, and we are proud to play a role in these students one day advancing medical research and caring for the men and women who fly whether it be here on Earth or in space, he added.

Medical, military careers An undergraduate degree in aerospace physiology from Embry-Riddle will put students on track to enter medical school, or to pursue careers in the military and civilian sectors, said Dr. Karen Gaines, dean of the universitys College of Arts and Sciences. Studying cellular function in space can help advance scientific research, human health care and life on Earth. Radiation, G force and other characteristics of extreme environments affect human physiology from the cellular to the whole-body level.

She added, Students who learn more about those mechanisms will be in a position to inform health care, best practices in aerospace and our understanding of how our cells age.

Aerospace physiologists are trained to identify, prevent and manage the impacts that extreme environments can have on human health. The effects of microgravity, cosmic radiation, isolation, rapid as well as sustained acceleration in an aircraft, low barometric pressure and reduced oxygen pressure in the blood can all take a toll on the human body, Gaines explained.

Oxygen deficiency (hypoxia), decompression sickness, artery-blocking clots of blood or air (embolism), damage to the middle ear (barotitis), loss of consciousness, microgravity-induced bone loss and other health problems can result from exposure to hostile aerospace environments.

Twins Experiment Being able to address ailments related to air or space travel is a critical goal for NASA and the U.S. Air Force as well as private aviation and commercial space flight operations.

This is why NASA recently conducted its highly publicized Twins Experiment, by sending NASA astronaut Scott Kelly on a year-long mission to the International Space Station while his identical twin brother, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, remained Earth-bound. NASA wanted to explore how space affects immune-system reactions and DNA aging, among other questions.

As a result of the Twins Experiment, for example, NASA learned that Scott Kellys gene expression, which supports key cellular functions such as the production of insulin, had decreased in space.

Reduced gene expression seemed to result from decreased methylation of Kellys DNA in space.

The process of methylation, which occurs when certain groups of molecules latch onto DNA, can help regulate gene expression, and is a biomarker of aging.

NASA also studied the Kelly brothers telomeres the protective caps at the end of DNA strands that deteriorate as a person ages. After nearly a year in space, NASA reported, Scott Kellys telomeres were longer than those of his twin brother Mark.

Real-world experience Embry-Riddles curriculum will provide graduates with an understanding of the fundamental principles in molecular and cellular biology, behavioral neuroscience, genetics and heredity, anatomy and physiology, and chemistry and biochemistry.

Through the universitys collaboration with Florida Hospital, students further will learn about clinical instrumentation and clinical care, so as to gain real-world experience. The Embry-Riddle program will be the first U.S.-based undergraduate program in aerospace physiology. Gaines noted that there are advanced graduate and clinical degree programs in related fields.

The new aerospace physiology program at Embry-Riddle will prepare students for careers or further study in aerospace medicine as well as any other advanced medical practice, including physical therapy, nursing and pharmacology, Gaines said.

Gender balance The new program should help promote Embry-Riddles long-standing goal to attract more women to the worlds oldest and largest aeronautical university.

Making the traditionally male-dominated field of engineering more inclusive remains a challenge nationwide, but Embry-Riddle has made progress in improving the gender balance on its campus: The number of women enrolled at the Daytona Beach campus is 1,248.

The number of women enrolled at Embry-Riddles Daytona Beach campus has increased from 16.6 percent of the total student population in 2010 to a current level of 20.8 percent and this years entering class of first-time undergraduate students was about 23 percent female.

Biology and minorities Nationally, Gaines noted, women earn less than one-fifth of all bachelors degrees in engineering and computer science, but slightly more than 40 percent of bachelors degrees in the physical sciences and mathematics.

A 2014 student in the Journal of Cell Biology (Eddy et al.) found that women tend to enter life sciences programs at much higher rates than they enter other science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. In fact, women earn nearly 60 percent of all bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in biology.

The National Science Foundation further reported in 2013 that biology is the fastest growing undergraduate major among minority women.

Because of its 90-year history as a top aerospace engineering university, Embry-Riddle works hard to recruit women students, Gaines said. We hope the new aerospace physiology program will initially draw more women to that program, and over time, draw a broader mix of students to all of our other programs, too.

For more information, visit erau.edu/degrees/bachelor/aerospace-physiology.

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Embry-Riddle to debut program in aerospace physiology | Daytona ... - Daytona Times

The path to becoming a practicing physician requires dedication and a significant investment of time and resources.

I have wanted to be a doctor since I was young, says George Novan M.D., an infectious diseases physician and Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education at the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.

But even long-held aspirations come with surprises, and challenges. In his second year of medical school, Dr. Novan had an experience that surprised him, challenged his expectations, and taught him a lesson thats stayed with him throughout his career.

In my school, we had a course entitled Death and Dying, Dr. Novan says. As part of the course, each student was assigned a patient who was dying and had agreed to discuss what they were going through with a medical student.

I was expecting an elderly patient, and instead, I walked into the room and met a woman in her mid-30s. It was a shock and she saw that in my expression. As she saw my expression, she began to tell me her story. And as her fears, and her emotions came out, she taught me. I had been so focused on all the facts I needed to know in my basic medical science courses yet now I was talking to a young woman dying of her cancer. This courageous woman who took the time and effort to discuss her suffering with me taught me the full responsibility of being a physician.

The path to becoming a practicing physician requires dedication and a significant investment of time and resources. It demands a deep love for learning in general, and intellectual curiosity about medicine in particular. And, as Dr. Novan learned early on, while physicians are trained to treat and cure patients, they also must learn to provide quality comfort and care to patients and families when treatment is no longer working.

Learning in Washington communities

The foundational science phases of medical school provide a solid base and common understanding upon which future classwork and experiental learning will build. Coursework on anatomy, chemistry and math prepares students for the intellectual and emotional rigors to come, and builds a network of bonds as classmates and future colleagues begin to work together.

Intensive orientation courses assist students with assimilation into medical school. Clinical education is integrated into the foundational sciences curriculum, offering future physicians insights into how their coursework translates into real-life situations.

In August, Washington State Universitys Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine will debut its medical education program, which leads to a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree. The program will welcome 60 students to its charter class.

Starting in their first year, medical students will learn in classrooms and labs, as well as hospitals and clinics. In many areas, local hospitals and clinics are understaffed, and the connection between them and the medical college can be a lifeline.

Dr. Radha Nandagopal is a member of the clinical faculty of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. She also chairs the Colleges Admissions Committee.

We are looking for those students who are committed to the state of Washington, committed to the idea of rural and underserved medicine, Dr. Nandagopal says.

By the third and fourth years, medical students are gaining hands-on experience in hospitals and clinics near their campus locations. Students become part of professional teams in community clinics and hospitals. They build relationships with faculty, colleagues, mentors, patients, and communities. Small cohorts encourage team-based learning.

As part of their clinical education, students will learn clinical reasoning how to proceed step by step through a reasoning process to arrive at a diagnosis. By the time students enter their third year of clinical clerkships, students will be able to advance diagnostic ideas and participate in patient care based on the knowledge and experience they have been receiving since their first year, says Dr. Nandagopol.

Dr. Novan recalls the experience that made him feel like a doctor for the first time. In his fourth year of medical school, he was treating a patient suffering from cirrhosis. The patient needed to have fluid buildup siphoned from his abdominal cavity on a regular basis.

He had experienced the drainage so many times that the assumption always had been that the only thing needed was to remove the fluid and not order unnecessary tests, Dr. Novan says. But I had been taught well to be thorough in reviewing a patients medical records. I took my clinical rotations and of course, patient care very seriously as a fourth-year student.

I spent considerable time reading through his records. I was never able to find a time when that fluid had been sent to the microbiology lab for cultures. When I completed the procedure, I included ordering cultures for a variety of organisms. The cultures returned positive revealing that in addition to cirrhosis he had tuberculosis involving the lining of his abdominal cavity. This lead to needed new treatment.

The patient was immensely grateful. He started referring to me as his doctor his guru which made me feel both embarrassed and glad. On the last day of my rotation, I came into his room to say goodbye. In the room was his entire family. They each had a homemade vase, that they had created, in their hands. The patient shared how much my care had meant to him and the family gave me the vases that they had made in honor of the man they loved getting better and in appreciation for my care. That day I learned an invaluable lesson as a medical student.

Students at the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine take the Art and Practice of Medicine that addresses not only what students know, but what they will do as a medical professional, including helping students build empathy for the patients they will serve.

By integrating clinical, simulation, and case-based learning experiences, the College prepares graduates to lead health care teams, says Dr. Ann Poznanski, pathologist and Associate Dean for Curriculum. They learn to coordinate resources in new ways to improve patient care and the health of their communities.

Many of the communities in which students at schools like the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine will train are facing critical physician shortages. When the students education is complete, they will be ready to address the needs of these medically underserved communities.

Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine not only trains physicians to meet the needs of todays patients, but to anticipate changes in the delivery of health care that includes wellness, as well as treating diseases. It equips graduates to thrive in a rapidly evolving health care environment and gives them the technical, behavioral and leadership skills necessary to obtain exceptional results in the states most challenging healthcare environments.

We are building a service culture in the college that will result in extraordinary outcomes for our students, says Founding Dean John Tomkowiak. It will also yield tremendous results for our clinical partners and, ultimately, the patients and communities our graduates serve.

The Colleges learning, training, and clinical environments will inspire our students to be leaders in their communities and in the health care field, says Dr. Tomkowiak.

Washington State University has delivered advanced education for more than 125 years. Its new medical school leverages that experience to achieve new milestones in medical research, innovation, interprofessional education and patient-centered care. Find out more at medicine.wsu.edu.

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Medical school lessons go beyond anatomy and physiology - The Seattle Times

HOUGHTON, Mich. (WLUC) - Science became both interactive and fun for high school students Thursday in Houghton. Nearly 30 Dollar Bay juniors and seniors spent the day at Michigan Technological University for National Biomechanics Day.

Its a national, and even international day, to celebrate the scientific studies of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology. Thats where physics is applied to understand human and animal movement.

The students, who are taking physics classes now, took part in several hands-on activities in MTUs labs.

Were really giving them experiences where they can understand how humans move and apply that to sports, Integrated Physiology Professor Steven Elmer said. Once they finish up here in this department, they have the choice to go look at applications in physical therapy, mechanical engineering, as well as computer science.

As the Baby Boomers age, Michigan Tech is trying to get local high schools to establish physiology classes with hopes of helping the elderly.

For the latest News, Weather and Sports, tune into your TV6 News and FOX UP News.

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High school students learn about Kinesiology, Integrative Physiology at Michigan Tech - UpperMichigansSource.com

at Monash University

Job No. 561096 Faculty / Portfolio: Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences School of Biomedical Sciences Department of Physiology Location: Clayton campus Employment Type: Full-time Duration:12 month fixed-term appointment Remuneration: $64,563 - $74,160 pa HEW Level 05 (plus 9.5% employer superannuation)

Achieve at a world top 100 university

Clayton campus

If you're after a rewarding career, Monash University can help make it happen. With leading academics and world-class resources, combined with a ranking in the top 100 universities worldwide, we offer all you need to build a brighter future.

The Opportunity The Department of Physiology is seeking a highly motivated individual to join the research groups of two successful laboratories within the department. The selected candidate will assist with a variety of projects investigating the role of previously unlinked compounds on the metabolic status of mice.

You will be responsible for performing a range of researchrelated activities (including laboratory preparation, and operational and administrative duties) to support the delivery of in vivo physiology studies.

The role involves animal handling, monitoring and colony management; performing glucose tolerance tests, intraperitoneal / subcutaneous / intracerebroventricular injections, blood collection and sample processing; anaesthesia and implantation surgeries; and euthanasia and tissue harvest.

Ideally we are seeking a candidate who has completed a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Biomedical Science or equivalent degree, or someone who has substantial relevant skills and work experience leading to the development of practical expertise in metabolic research.

Enquiries Ms Lauren Kelly, Senior Project Manager, 03 9905 2377

Apply for this role.

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on The Conversation.

Monash University was established in 1958 and welcomed its first intake of students in 1961. In its fifty year history, the university has established itself as one of Australias finest tertiary institutions, building an enviable reputation for both its outstanding teaching and its transformative research. Today, Monash is Australias largest university, boasting a global network of more than 250,000 alumni.

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Research Assistant (Physiology) - The Conversation Job Board - The Conversation AU

Seattle, WA (April 5, 2017) Nuunand company, the leading sports drink brand in sports specialty and natural foods retail, is introducing Performance, the cleanest endurance drink mix formulated from science and rooted in nature, designed for sustained and intense activities. The nuun team partnered with world-renowned Exercise Physiologist and Sports Nutritionist Stacy T. Sims, PhD to use the latest understanding of how athletes systems react under stress, to create a hydration product that is lighter and yet more effective than what has been available. Pure ingredients and Non-GMO Project Verified sourcing contribute to the superior absorption and minimized gastric impact. Performance will be debuted at nuuns expo presence at the Boston Marathon April 13th 16th and Sea Otter Classic April 20th 23rd and will begin being served on course at events this summer.

We challenged ourselves to do what no other sports drink has done. The nuun team wanted to create a product that delivered superior performance withoutcompromising the pure sources that ultimately hydrate you, said Kevin Rutherford, nuun President and CEO. The reality is that we are not as smart as nature which is why thisproduct is the perfect blend of sports science and natural foods.

Performance is the only product to use multiple non-gmo sugar sources, dextrose and sucrose. The combination activates multiple absorption pathways and eliminates the build up of gastric distress. A fifth electrolyte, chloride, has also been added through potassium chloride given its rapid assimilation into the body. Chloride plays a key role in hydration at the cellular level and is needed for the absorption of fluid during prolonged activity.

I am very honored to partner with nuun to continue to evolve the sports drink industry, and Performance is a culmination of everything I have learned through my over 20 years of research in sport nutrition, added Stacy T. Sims PhD. The selection and purity of ingredient sourcing supports the latest research, and this line strategically maximizes fluid absorption and minimizes cellular stress in the digestive system during exercise.

Performance is formulated to work for your body with ingredients that are as close to nature as possible, compromising nothing, from the farm to the bottle. The flavoring is provided from dried fruit powder through an innovative process that maximizes the fruits bioavailability not requiring any fillers. It is also sourced with vegan cane sugar as opposed to the widely used conventional sugar that is processed through bone char. Demonstrating nuuns external commitment to sourcing purity, all ingredients are third party certified as Non-GMO Project Verified and Informed Choice Safe for Sport.

We learned from the latest nuun tablet formulas that using the purist sources of ingredients allows the body to process and utilize them more efficiently while limiting the amount of surplus within the product. shared Vishal Patel, nuun Chief Nutritionist. This methodology was applied to Performance creating a higher performing, lighter hydration powder than was previously available on the market.

Consumer preferences are changing amongst athletes and there is a movement across the country toward natural sports nutrition products for use during training and competition. Major events are reflecting this trend, shifting to plant-based, low sugar, electrolyte rich and environmentally friendly brands like nuun and away from artificial, high sugar products on course. Performance demonstrates nuuns commitment to the health conscious athlete and the race directors that are serving this significant population. The line will be served on course at nuun sponsored marathons and cycling events over the next year including Seattle to Portland, San Francisco Marathon, the Aids Lifecycle Ride, Long Beach Marathon, NYC Century, and Austin Marathon.

Nuun Performance is debuting with two flavors Mango Orange and Blueberry Strawberry. It will be sold in a 16-serving pouch for $19.99 and single serve sachets for $1.99. The line will be available in April across sports specialty retailers including REI, Performance Bike and Fleet Feet.

Aboutnuun & company nuun, based in Seattle, WA, is on a mission to inspire a healthier, happier, more active lifestyle so that everyone can achieve lifes next personal best. As the pioneer of electrolyte enhanced drink tablets, nuun is passionate about and committed to replenishing active people and our planet by using clean ingredients and practices in the great tasting and industry leading sports drink.Founded in 2004, nuun was the first to separate hydration from fueling, andtwelve years laternuun active hydration remains the #1 selling sport drink product in bike, run, outdoor specialty, and outdoor chain stores. To learn more, visit http://www.nuunlife.comor follow them on social media.

About Stacy Sims Dr. Stacy T. Sims has contributed to the environmental exercise physiology and sports nutrition fields for more than 15 years leading groundbreaking research and innovations throughout her academic and consulting career. Stacy is currently a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Waikato Adams Centre for High Performance advancing research in environmental considerations and sex differences across elite athletes to the general public. Prior, Stacy created natural sports nutrition products to solve problems of gastrointestinal distress and hydration for all athletes. She served as an exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist at Stanford University, the University of Otago and Massey University specializing in sex differences of environmental and nutritional considerations for recovery and performance. Stacy has continually applied her knowledge in the field educating and supporting athletes at the highest level of sport, including Olympians and Tour de France riders, and is an elite athlete herself. Recently she published ROAR with Selene Yeager focusing on food and fitness matched to the female physiology.

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Nuun Debuts Natural Endurance Drink Mix Based on the Latest in ... - BevNET.com

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Episode 17: State of the Art - Coronary Physiology - TCTMD

The feminine mystique is not just figurativeit also extends to womens reproductive anatomy. For decades women were excluded from research studies, leading to a dearth of information about female physiology that is only just starting to be filled in. Some insights have come from research on tissue grown in standard petri dishes but these studies still cannot represent the intricacies of a womans menstrual cycle.

Now in a bioengineering first, researchers have created a miniature laboratory model of the entire female reproductive tract, complete with hormone signaling. This 3-D organ-on-a-chip system may improve our understanding of the causes of recurrent miscarriage and fuel new research into birth control and other drug development. The work may also inch medicine toward a future when fertility experts could simply grow a sample of an individual womans cells, place them in this chip system and determine the best treatment.

To model the female reproductive system, a team of researchers led by Northwestern Universitys Teresa Woodruff took lab-grown human and mouse cells from five organs and cultivated them in a network of interconnected cubes. The cubes were fed by tubes that allowed blood and hormones to flow through them, mimicking the fluids movement throughout the body. Valves and pumps also controlled the units pressure and airflow. This environment allowed cells that would normally die in a petri dishsuffocating amid their own cellular wasteto stay alive for a standard 28-day reproductive cycle.

After the researchers jump-started the systems hormonal communication with an injection of pituitary hormone, the cells secreted levels of estrogen and progesterone found in a typical menstrual cycle and the signaling that occurs between female reproductive organs. The team was also able to simulate hormone levels during ovulation as well as the early stages of pregnancy, creating a tool that could potentially yield insight into how to maintain successful pregnancies. The feats are described today in Nature Communications. This represents not only a revolution in cell culture technique [but also] an evolution of the study of the reproductive tract and disease, Woodruff says.

The menstrual-cycle-on-a-chip system includes mouse ovarian cells, along with human cells from the fallopian tube, endometrium and cervix obtained from hysterectomies. (Human ovarian cells were not available, but mouse ovarian cells produce the same hormones.) The system also includes human liver cells, included because that organ breaks down many drugs. The work builds on earlier efforts by Linda Griffith and colleagues at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, to develop a liver on a chip. The menstrual chip research team significantly expanded on that technology and those of many other groups to produce the current design for modeling reproductive cycles.

The new chip system is far from a perfect stand-in for female anatomy: Right now organs-on-a-chip cannot account for something like an early-life [toxic] exposure that might affect future reproductive health, says Kevin Osteen, a professor obstetrics and gynecology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine who was not involved in the study but works on other reproductive chip models. The new chip system also does not include the placenta, which is key to supporting pregnancy, nor does it factor in how inflammation due to a viral infection would affect reproductive organs. Still, Woodruff says, her system opens possibilities for studying a wide range of conditions, such as diseases of the cervix, which cannot be modeled in mice because their cervical cells are completely different from the human variety. She adds, This system will allow us to study infection in that organ in way we havent been able to do in the past.

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"Menstrual Cycle on a Chip" Offers a New Window into Female ... - Scientific American

Feline anatomyis an interesting and unique subject in the animal kingdom. Cats have extreme strength and agility for their size, along with heightened senses and the ability to reason. Their eyes are complex organs with keen eyesight and a broad range of hearing. Due to the intricate nature of a cats body and physiological properties, a delicate balance must be upheld with care. Cats are extremely resilient, but when the immune system or inner organs are affected by infection or disease, the outcome is often bleak.

Cat anatomy

The feline anatomy consists of many similarities to that of other species, namely the human body. A cat skeleton has a few more bones, but many of these are identical to those of the human skeleton. Uniquely, a cats collar bone is unattached to the other bone structures, and its muscular structure is designed for agility, allowing it to leap, twist and fall with grace. Cats have 30 teeth and claws that not only help with hunting and foraging, but assist the cat in maintaining balance, and scratching.

Cat digestive system

Since a cats dietin the wild consists primarily of the meat of other animals, the feline anatomy contains a digestive systemthat creates acids and enzymes appropriate for the breakdown of food and destruction of bacteria. A cats teeth also play a role in digestion by tearing sharply at meats and other substances. Much like other species, the salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver and kidneys work together to aid the digestive process.

Cat nervous system

A cats nervous systemis a unique part of the feline anatomy. Cats are born both blind and deaf, and these senses normally dont develop until about two weeks of age. The nervous system fully develops as the kitten ages, barring any trauma or infection that can hinder this process. The central nervous system is responsible for the brain and spinal cord messages, the peripheral nervous system affects muscles and movement, and the autonomic nervous system controls the involuntary functions of the body.

Cat reproductive system

The reproductive systemis the part of the feline anatomy thats responsible for mating, copulation, pregnancy and birth. Female cats, or queens, can produce 2 to 3 litters per year and can give birth to multiple kittens per pregnancy. Cats will usually not go into heat in the winter months, and spaying or neuter will not only prevent unwanted litters and strays, but can also make for a calmer and more relaxed house pet.

Feline behavior

A cats behaviouris usually evidenced by its stance or meow. Thebehaviouralaspects of the feline physiology lead us to believe thatitsa very intelligent animal. Cats have reasoning abilities, and express anger with certain posture, movements and sounds. The temperament of cats varies greatly and can swing from docile and laid back to finicky and aggressive, even pertaining to the same cat. A quick change in attitude or evidence of unexpected hiding or aggressive behavior can indicate a problem. Cats dont react well under stressful conditions and an examination may prove helpful in this case.by Dr Ruan Du Toit Bester

Hope this info helps with understanding cats moreTill next week

Ask the Vet:Royal Veterinary CentreTel: +853 28501099, +853 28523678Emergency: +853 66776611Email: info@rvcmacau.com

Dr Ruan

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Ask the Vet | Studying Feline Anatomy and Physiology - Macau Daily Times

Editors note: We are delighted to welcome Dr. Anderson as a new contributor to Evolution News.

I am an anesthesiologist in South Africa. As in the United States, physicians in South African must pass certifying examinations to qualify as anesthesiologists, and I am an examiner for the Faculty of Anaesthesiologists of the College of Medicine of South Africa.

A while back I was sitting across from a candidate who had been studying hard for his oral certifying exam in anesthesiology. He had already passed his exams in medicine and had been a physician for five years. His internship (called a housemanship in South Africa) was complete; he had finished a year of national community service (required of physicians in South Africa); and he had spent a year gaining experience in ear, nose, and throat surgery before deciding that he wanted to pursue a career in anesthesiology. He had already passed the difficult written exams for his specialization and was waiting to be invited to the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine in Durban to face his oral examiners.

My goal was to help him prepare for the exam by giving him practice orals and tips on how to do well in such a situation. I tried to make the practice exercise as close to the real thing as possible. Even though he knew that our exercise was not for marks and had no bearing on his future career, he was feeling nervous and under pressure to pass.

I asked him about the transport of oxygen in the body, and I concentrated on the features of the hemoglobin molecule that make it well suited for the role it plays. Specifically, the hemoglobin molecule has an increased affinity for oxygen (O2) in the alveoli of the lung, where the O2 level is high. But it has a decreased affinity for O2 in the capillaries of the peripheral tissues, where the O2 is low and the high level of carbon dioxide (CO2) makes the tissues more acidic. (This is called the Bohr effect, after Danish physiologist Christian Bohr.) So hemoglobin releases O2 at precisely the point where it has the shortest path to diffuse from the blood to the mitochondria of the cells.

By a different mechanism, hemoglobin in the peripheral capillaries binds to CO2. This converts the molecule to carbaminohemoglobin, which has a low affinity for O2. In the alveolar capillaries of the lung, where the level of CO2 is low and the level of O2 is high, carbaminohemoglobin releases its CO2 and reverts to hemoglobin, with its high affinity for O2. (This is called the Haldane effect, after Scottish physiologist John Haldane.)

We are able to plot an Oxyhemoglobin Saturation curve comparing the degree of oxygen saturation of hemoglobin to the level of oxygen in the blood. Under conditions in the lung represented by the green curve (high O2, low CO2) hemoglobin takes up oxygen more readily; under conditions represented by the red curve in the peripheral tissues (low O2, high CO2), hemoglobin takes up oxygen less readily

The candidate I was questioning tied himself up in knots trying to remember and explain what factors shift the curve left and what factors shift it right. He had been taught that hemoglobin had evolved by randomly mutating genes and that this amazing molecule was undesigned. But if he had taken a design perspective in physiology, he would have thought, If I were to design a molecule to do this job, what properties would it have? He would have known that a designed molecule would have greater affinity for oxygen in a milieu where it is most advantageous for the body to extract oxygen from its surroundings, and decreased affinity in a milieu where it is most advantageous for the body to receive oxygen, despite there being no advantage to the molecule itself. From a design perspective, it would be common sense to know what would shift the curve left or right.

The candidate was not unintelligent; quite the contrary. Its just that the Darwinian evolution he was taught was like a millstone holding him back, whereas an understanding of intelligent design would have freed him to embrace physiology for all it is worth. Hemoglobin is only one molecule, and its changing affinity for oxygen relative to its position in the body is only one aspect of it. Name any organ, structure, enzyme, or function of the body, and I will happily explain its design features.

The progress of my career from wide-eyed and nervous first year medical student to head of an anesthesiology department and examiner for the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa was at no point aided by an understanding of Darwinian evolution, even though I was taught it and was first in my university class in biology. And my understanding of Darwinian evolution has not in any way benefited the manner in which I treat patients. Quite the opposite!

Every year, when I give the annual opening address at our hospital when welcoming new graduates and senior medical officers, I point out that it is only when you understand the human body as the pinnacle of design that you can truly care for patients.

Studying the Darwinian theory of evolution at medical school may align the beliefs of medical students with those of their colleagues in the biology department, but it in no way benefits them as physicians or helps them practice medicine. On the contrary, as the candidate I was helping illustrates, a lack of understanding of design in physiology may hinder their performance. A student happy to embrace design will have one less mental hurdle to overcome.

Images: Top: Anesthesiologist, U.S. Navy photo, by Photographers Mate 2nd Class Jeffrey Russell [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons; lower: oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve, by Ratznium [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Read more:
Why Understanding Intelligent Design Helps Us to Understand Physiology - Discovery Institute