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The primary difference between research and review articles is that research articles describe a particular project and all of the involved components. Whereas review articles describe an entire area of research and all of the relevant studies working toward a similar goal. The research article has the level 1 headings summary, introduction, methods and materials, results and discussion. It also contains level 2 headings in the methods and results, both covering specific parts of their respective sections. In the review article, the level one headings include an abstract, an introduction, sections for myrmecomorphy, myrmecophily, and myrmecophagy, as well as a brief discussion at the end. Like the research article, it also has level 2 headings.

I found it interesting that the review article contained more level 2 headings, but it makes sense since the review is drawing from so many different sources. Also, the writing style of the review came off as more digestible because it was meant to describe a more broad topic.

    Much like other solid tumors, GBM tumorigenesis leads to oxygen deprivation of specific regions and consequently hypoxia. This lack of oxygen tension in critical areas causes the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), which then causes the overexpression of VEGF. The resultant ligand binds to growth factor receptors on cancerous endothelial cells and induces angiogenesis (Vleeschouwer, 2016). This is an interesting component of cancers in general because the hypoxic areas that come from this process normally lead to cell death, but CSCs, specifically in GBM, thrive under these conditions due to the aforementioned mechanisms of angiogenesis.

There are currently two theories that aim to explain the heterogeneity of GBM solid tumors and the like: the stochastic model and the hierarchy model. The stochastic model posits that the heterogeneity of tumor cells results from both intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting cells with the same mutations. On the other hand, the hierarchy model takes a more nuanced approach by suggesting that only a few CSCs can initiate growth of a tumor, and the heterogeneity of the GBM tumor cells arises from the related cells being at different points in development/differentiation. This model points to the small subset of CSCs being the root of cancerous growth, resistance, and recurrence (Vleeschouwer, 2016). The issue then becomes identifying the cancer stem cells

My interests lie in environmental microbiology and astrobiology. I’ve taken a few of [REDACTED]'s microbiology courses, including his summer field course, [REDACTED]. Many of my class projects in his classes and during my summer research, I worked with samples collected from sites from Inyo County, California, including at Deep Springs Lake and the hot springs at Little Hot Creek. I’m interested in these areas because of the growing body of literature coming out of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and other researchers publishing in the field of astrobiology. These researchers are looking at hot springs here on Earth—in Inyo County’s hot springs and in Yellowstone National Park—as in situ models for what life on Mars may have looked like millions of years ago. One study published in May this year—while we were on the field course—examined evidence of microbial respiration preserved in mineralized microbial mats. The authors of the study suggested that we may find similar-looking fossils on Mars. Of course, it’s hard for astrobiologists to get close enough to find fossils like these on another celestial body. Until we have the resources to send manned missions to other bodies like Mars, Saturn’s moon Enceladus, or Jupiter’s moon Europa, etc., we can observe them from afar and identify geophysical features—namely, liquid water—that indicate a hospitable environment.

I’ve built up experience in environmental microbiology through [REDACTED]’s classes, as well as a soil microbiology course I’m currently taking. I’ve also taken other environmental science courses, such as [REDACTED]'s biogeochemistry course. I think that geomorphology is probably a key subject for me to build up my knowledge in. Being able to identify the geological features that astrobiologists look for, like surface or subsurface water or evidence of such, historic glaciers, vulcanism, tidal heating, etc., understanding why astrobiologists may look for these things, would be very useful to me in the future.

Throughout reading the two articles, I noticed many differences in the style and structure of the writing. The review paper began with an abstract explaining the objectives of this paper; this surprised me because I assumed that a summary of a review paper would sound redundant. However, it is helpful to start the paper with an abstract to prepare the reader for the extensive information regarding spider-ant associations that follows. After the abstract was a heading for the introduction, and this began with a number. The number system for paragraphs is useful as it helps the reader identify the paragraphs and sub-paragraph topics. As for the research article, the abstract was instead named the summary, which provided similar information regarding the journal. The introduction and proceeding paragraphs were not numbered, but instead stated as ‘materials and methods’ and ‘results’. This was different than the review article, but just as easy to understand. I did note that the introduction for the research paper was significantly longer than the introduction of the review paper. 

It is debatable whether or not the quote “love conquers all” is true or not. In some ways, I believe that the statement is true. In other ways, I completely disagree with the quote. The quote itself is very broad and vague, so it is hard to make a full conclusion. There are many types of loves in life. Humans can love one another, whether it is in a romantic, platonic, or somewhere in between. Furthermore, we can love things, such as cars or power. While I do believe love is a powerful force, sometimes love is not enough. Love drives us to do many things in life, whether it is good or bad. However, if love is leading us to do something bad, can we still consider it love? When people are passionate about or love something, they often will sacrifice anything for what they love. In the end, however, I believe that when people love one another and join forces for a single cause or thing they love, it can change the world. I think that is one way that “love conquers all.” We often see the idea of “love conquers all” portrayed in movies and books. For example, Disney often glorifies the idea and power of romantic love. The glorification of love can be misleading and dangerous. While love can be healthy and beautiful, there is also abusive and toxic love.

The experiment was performed to determine whether salt concentrations directly affected with the bean’s germination and root length. The beans were placed into different solutions of  NaCl concentration. The control group of the experiment, Set one had been diluted with a solution of 0% NaCl, to determine whether salt had any effect on the other beans different bags labeled two through seven were watered with different sodium chloride concentrations. As the concentrations of NaCl increased the percentages of germination decreased along with root length, set two 0.025% NaCl  solution had the highest root growth 8.5 cm. Due to NaCl concentration increase all bean germination after the third experiment the third roots showed lower percent of germination decreasing from by 90% to 0%. Different to the first three sets of lower concentrations of NaCl solutions the beans that did germinate produced shoots in lesser lengths 0.05% 6 cm, 0.1% 7.5 cm, 0.5% 5.6 cm, 1.0% 4.7 cm, 2.5% 0cm, 5.0% ocm. The beans that did not germinate enabled a mold at sprouting phase.  The experiment did show that increasing the NaCl solution would affect bean germination because increased NaCl concentrate prevented shoot growth . ​

The purpose of this lab was to learn how to accurately determine melting points and to use this technique to then determine the melting points of two unkowns. The melting point is a physical property of a solid which can be used to help identify a substance. Usually, a solid will not melt at a specific temperature but instead will melt over a range. When using a melting point range, a narrow range suggests that the compound is relatively pure, whereas a larger range suggests a relative impurity. For this lab, a range of 2 degrees celsius was considered narrow and pure, with any greater range resulting in a retest with a new sample. 

In this lab, the melting points of two unkowns and the three compounds naphthalene, urea and sulfanilamide were to be determined. By using the melting temperature device it was possible to quickly heat the known compounds to 10 degrees celsius below their given melting point range. From there, the heat could ramp up at about 1 degree celsius per minute so that the melting could be observed when it started and when it finished, thus providing a range. 

The observed melting range for naphthalene was 81-83. The narrow range suggests a level of purity for the sample. The expected range was 79-80. The observed result was slightly higher than the given melting point range , but this could stem from the mel-Temp device thermometer being slightly off, or due to the purity of the sample. The observed melting range for urea was 133-135. Again, the narrow 2 degree range suggests the purity of the substance tested. However, here too the observed melting temperature range was slightly different than the given 132-134 range. Here, the difference is by 1 degree and does not suggest any larger error at play. The temperature range difference was slight and could be applicable to the thermometer device. The last given compound was sulfanilamide and it had an observed melting point range fo 165-167. This is the same range that was given for the known compound and fits within the 2 degree temperature range, suggesting that it is relatively pure.

The experiment had 8 sets of beans, Phaseolus vulgaris, were watered down with different  concentrations of sodium chloride 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.5%, 5.0%. The experiment was performed to determine whether salt concentrations directly affected with the bean’s germination and root length. The beans were placed into different solutions of specific NaCl concentration. Set 1 had been watered with a solution of 0% NaCl, this had been the control group of the experiment to determine whether salt had any effect on the other beans, the other seven bags were individually watered with the sodium chloride concentrations . As the concentrations of NaCl increased the percentages of germination decreased along with root length, set one, 0% NaCl solution had the third highest root growth of 7 cm, set two 0.025% NaCl  solution had the highest root growth 8.5 cm , as NaCl concentration increased after the third set each the roots showed lower percent of germination decreasing from by 90% to 0% in total germination. Different to the first three sets of lower concentrations of NaCl solutions the beans that did germinate produced shoots in lesser lengths 0.05% 6 cm, 0.1% 7.5 cm, 0.5% 5.6 cm, 1.0% 4.7 cm, 2.5% 0cm, 5.0% ocm. The beans that did not germinate produced a mold, appeared wrinkled and also shriveled. Overall the experiment did show that increasing the NaCl solution would affect a bean’s germination.

The 1960s were a time in which the surgical practice of organ transplantation advanced. Organ transplants existed before the 1960s but the technology was not as developed. In 1961 a patient receiving a renal transplant was given immunosuppressant drugs. Although this patient did not live very long after the transplant it still helped the doctors and researchers in figuring out how to reverse the rejection process of organs. The importance of immunosuppressants in transplants became clear during the 1960s. The use of immunosuppressants was a very important advancement because it allowed people to live longer and have a higher quality of life with their new transplants. Immunosuppressants are still used today to keep people healthy after receiving a transplant.  

Mitosis is a universal mechanism it replicates cells to assist asexual reproduction, growth replication, and tissue regeneration. The division of cells occurs in stages transitioning to the final stage of two new nucleic cells. Mitosis involves four processes to create new cells prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. The processes begin with a single cell's chromosomes condensing and forming pairs at the center of each chromosome as this occurs the cell begins to form the mitotic spindle pulling the chromosomes toward opposite ends of the cell wall. The separation involves the original cell forming a cleavage down the middle of its cell body resulting in a split and forming two new nuclei cells with equal amounts of DNA and identical replicates of the original cell.