Imagine your brain as a laptop

We’ve been conditioned to think that if we aren’t “logged in,” we aren’t achieving. But science says your brain is a lot like your phone – it has a “dark mode” called the Default Mode Network (DMN), and it’s a complete game changer.

Think of the DMN as your brain’s background processing. It only kicks in when you’re doing “nothing” – daydreaming, staring out a window, or taking a walk without your AirPods. While you’re zoning out, your brain is actually busy cleaning up mental clutter and connecting the dots on that essay prompt you’ve been stuck on for days. The point is, “Proactive Boredom” isn’t a waste of time. It’s a hardware update. If you don’t give your brain space to breathe, you’re trying to run the latest software on a battery that’s at 1%.

How to trick your brain into work mode:

Eventually, the daydreaming has to end and the laptop has to open. When that “I’d rather do literally anything else” feeling hits, don’t fight it. Hack it. Here are two ways you can do so:

1. The 5-Minute Lie: Tell yourself you’re only going to work for 300 seconds. Set a timer. Usually, the threat of a huge and intimidating project is what makes us procrastinate. Once you break the seal, and get into the flow, you won’t want to stop. A psychological quirk called the Zeigarnik Effect kicks in – your brain will actually feel annoyed if you stop before the task is done.
2. Double Productivity: Grab a friend and sit in total silence. You don’t even have to work on the same thing, just having another human in the room acting as a productivity anchor makes it 10x harder for you to fall down an Instagram rabbit hole.

So, real productivity isn’t about how many hours you spend sitting at your desk, taking a break every time you set up your work: open a google doc, revision slides, etc; it’s about how much energy you bring to the table when you’re there. This weekend, ditch the guilt. Spend some time doing absolutely nothing. Stare at a wall. Take a nap. Go for a walk outside. Let your brain reset. When Monday comes around, you won’t just be “busy” – you’ll be unstoppable!

Edited by Kailey Chan

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines (“Antimicrobial resistance”) Antimicrobial resistance was found to have caused  an estimate of 23,000 deaths in the United States in 2013 (Tavernise) and an estimated 5 million global deaths in 2019. In recent years, antibiotic resistant bacteria posed significant risk towards the global population and continues to be a challenge scientists must consider during the development of antibiotics. As traditional antibiotics production has fallen over the years, a result of its potential infectivity, the need for innovative and out-of-the box fixes have never been more necessary. However, developing such solutions require navigating through complex topics in both the medical and scientific sphere. This exploration will dive into the complexities and considerations regarding the expansion of innovative antibiotics.  

HOW DOES ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE OCCUR?`

Since the discovery of penicillin in 1928, antibiotics have revolutionized medicine. Despite this, there has been a disturbing trend in antibiotic resistance in the past decade. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria evolve to resist the effects of antibiotics. This transpires through various manners. Pathogens develop resistance by neutralizing and altering components of antibiotics; rendering them ineffective. They also alter their own structures and genetic information so that the antibiotic can no longer attach or recognize them through the Horizontal Gene transfer, which includes the processes conjugation, transduction and transformation. Antibiotic resistance also occurs through natural selection, where mutated bacteria resistant to antibiotics reproduce via mitosis; producing clones that retain the same characteristics as their parents. 

Pathogens can develop resistance through lesser-known mechanisms such as efflux pumps (“Efflux pump inhibitors for bacterial pathogens: From bench to bedside”), which are protein transport carriers expelling antibiotics, reducing their effectiveness. This forms Biofilm, structured communities of microorganisms that adhere to surfaces, known to evince between a 10 to 1,000 times resistance to antibiotics when contrasted with bacteria of close nature living in planktonic states (“The Role of Bacterial Biofilms in Antimicrobial Resistance | ASM.org”). 

Staphylococcus Aureus is a gram-positive bacteria that causes skin infections, pneumonia and endocarditis (“Staphylococcus aureus Basics | Staphylococcus aureus”).  Current studies have shown that 30-50% of Staphylococcus aureus are Methicillin-resistant and 40-60% of Staphylococcus aureus strains show resistance to at least one antibiotic. (“Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Recreational Waters and Beach Sand in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa”). This bacteria develops resistance to certain antibiotics by producing an enzyme known as beta-lactamase, which hydrolyzes the beta-lactam rings of antibiotics such as penicillin (Lowy). 

HOW DO SCIENTISTS TACKLE AMR DURING THE PRODUCTION OF ANTIBIOTICS?

Vaccines have been a cornerstone for public health, providing immunity against infectious diseases. They have been responsible for preventing multiple pandemics from having disastrous effects. They have also helped in the eradication of diseases such as Smallpox and rinderpest. Despite this, the threat of Antimicrobial Resistance has led to even longer formulation periods for vaccines, with vaccine research scientists having the responsibility of not only formulating the vaccines, but also taking into consideration the risk of AMR. The 2014-2016 outbreak of Multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis serves as a relevant example on displaying the meticulousness of vaccine formulations.

Antigen selection becomes a very important factor when formulating a vaccine against TB. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative bacterium, has developed various elaborate immune evasion mechanisms; hence, finding the effective components of the vaccine becomes absolutely essential. Various proteins like ESAT-6 and CFP-10 have been tried and show promising results in inducing strong immune responses (“Importance of adjuvant selection in tuberculosis vaccine development: Exploring basic mechanisms and clinical implications”).

TB vaccines, such as Bacille Calmette-Guérin, have been in use for many decades; however, the efficacy against MDR-TB is limited. Other new approaches are viral vector platforms or mRNA technology (“A century of BCG vaccination: Immune mechanisms, animal models, non-traditional routes and implications for COVID-19”). 

A CHOSEN REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE OF A VACCINE TARGETING AMR

What if a simple vaccine could prevent a debilitating infection that often arises from antibiotics use? A real-world example of a Vaccine targeting AMR would be the formulation of the Clostridium difficile Vaccine. 

Clostridium difficile is a gram-positive bacterium that is responsible for causing debilitating gastrointestinal infections, especially following the use of antibiotics. Side effects of infections include severe diarrhea and life threatening complications. The emergence of antibiotic resistant strains of this bacterium cause further threat to the lives of those suffering from Clostridium difficile. The primary target for the C. Difficile vaccines are Toxin A and Toxin B, both of which play crucial roles in its pathogenicity. These toxins are responsible for disrupting the intestinal function as well as contributing to the inflammation. During the vaccine development process, Researchers use recombinant proteins to mimic the structure of the toxins. For example, the Cdiffense vaccine (developed by Medicago), is composed of both Toxin A and B in order to elicit an immune response without causing the disease. Additionally, Adjuvants may also be used in the vaccine formulation as a means to enhance the immune response, to provide for long lasting and robust immunity. Multiple phases of clinical trials are also carried out. Firstly, tests are carried out on animals to assess its safety and efficacy. Phase I primarily focuses on safety and immunogenicity of volunteers, whereas phase II evaluates the efficacy of the vaccine in a larger batch of volunteers by analyzing the immune response. 

The formulation of the C. difficile vaccine was a model example of a vaccine formulated to combat AMR.  This is because C. difficile infections often occur after the use of antibiotics, disrupting the gut flora and allowing the bacterium to proliferate.

Conclusion

To conclude, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a formidable challenge in the development of effective antibiotics and vaccines. Scientists must now innovate and adapt their approaches to antibiotic development and vaccine formulation in ways including the creation of strategies such as targeting specific bacterial toxins in vaccine development. Moreover, understanding the genetic and biochemical pathways that enable bacteria to resist treatment is essential for devising targeted interventions.

Exams and tests can be challenging, but by applying scientifically supported revision methods, you can make the most of your revision time and build confidence in your abilities. The tips shared below are practical and easy to implement, a perfect fit for the tight schedule of busy students.

Note Taking

Note-taking is an extremely common revision technique, and if it works for you, then great! Done right, it can help you memorise information and get better results. We all love a little bit of aesthetic notes, like the one you see on Pinterest sometimes, but it can be quite time-consuming. For some, note taking might not be as effective as simply focusing and engaging with the content in class. 

I personally hate taking pages and pages of notes, so I found that the best way to take notes in class is to jot down brief, quick annotations: questions and key points about your content. For example, for physics, you could jot down some key equations and annotate them for future reference. Make sure to review them after class otherwise, you’ll forget everything you’ve learnt.

 If you really want to make another set of notes for revision, then you should use the following tips for guidance:

• Write in your own words and in simple terms. Writing everything down will just give you information overload. It’s better to be engaged and have an effective system of main points you understand.
• Make use of diagrams, visuals and white space. Cramming everything onto the page will make it a headache to read afterwards. Visuals can also help you visualise concepts and make it easier to remember afterwards.
• Refer to the syllabus for the topic you’re currently working on. I find that it makes the structure and focus of my notes much clearer, and helps me avoid rambling on about unrelated concepts. This will help you fill any gaps in your learning and figure out what to revise for.
• Use and annotate your teacher’s notes/slides or your textbook (online resources work too) as a starting point, before adding your own points. This will make the note-taking process much more efficient. 

I like to use all of the above methods and always avoid taking notes from scratch. For avid notetakers, it’s important not to use note-taking as your only revision method, and that you incorporate active recall and other techniques into your revision sessions.

Extra tip: format your notes in a way that you can easily use the content to quiz yourself. 

Above is an example of my own notes. As you can see, I’ve formatted it in a way that I can easily cover up the content to quiz myself on the subheadings. I’ve also tried to keep the information as simple as possible to make it easy to remember.

Blurting and Mind Mapping

Blurting involves writing everything you remember about a topic without looking at your notes, while mind mapping (spider diagrams) is a visual way to organise information quickly.

Using blurt and mind mapping together can maximise your study effectiveness. Begin by setting a timer for 5 minutes. Start with a main concept in the middle of your page, then branch out with correlated ideas, using lines to connect them. Write down everything that comes to mind, while still following the mind map structure. Try to visualise and organise those ideas as you go. At the end of making the mind map, look back and identify gaps in your understanding.

This combined approach helps you understand complex topics and enhances your overall comprehension. By integrating these techniques into your routine at the start of every session, you can make your revision much more effective.

Above is an example of my blurting mind map. This took me around 5 minutes to make, and I used this to structure my later revision. However, this served more as a general overview than a deep dive to see what exactly I remembered.

Active Recall

Perhaps the most effective method, active recall is a proven study technique that enhances memory retention and comprehension. Unlike passive learning methods, such as rereading notes or textbooks, active recall requires you to actively engage with the material by retrieving information from memory. 

The magic of active recall lies in testing yourself on the material you’ve learned. Methods like flashcards, practice questions, or self-quizzing force your brain to work harder to retrieve information, strengthening neural connections and improving long-term retention.

Research shows that active recall not only enhances memory but also increases understanding of the material. By regularly testing yourself, you identify gaps in your knowledge and can focus on areas that need more attention. This technique also promotes spaced repetition, where you revisit information over time, further solidifying your understanding.

Common Revision Techniques and their Replacements

Pomodoro Technique: Study for 25 minutes, rest for 5. This is great if you feel really tired and unmotivated, but isn’t the most effective for deep focus.

Replacement: Flowtime. If you have groups of small quick tasks, like doing a couple maths problems or reading a few pages, group them together into one session. For longer revision sessions, try to get into flow, a state of absolute focus and concentration with no distractions. First, you pick one task to focus on during a session. Once you’ve picked your task, start working on it, but note the time you began working. Keep working until you start feeling tired or distracted. Once you do, note the time and take a break. 

The goal of this method is to get into a state of mind that you don’t want to stop studying, which may sound crazy. The trick is to start small and remove any distractions. I really like this technique because it allows me to work for extended periods of time without feeling constrained by a timer.

All-nighter: Sometimes, it happens and that’s okay. But it’s important to study ahead of time and reduce the likelihood of this happening. Try to use the time you spend on transport, waiting in lines or any scraps of free time to get a bit of revision in instead of cramming at the very last minute.

Replacement: Getting enough rest before the test. Even if you feel unprepared, it’s still crucial that you’re prioritising your health. Research shows that “better quality, longer duration, and greater consistency of sleep correlated with better grades.” In fact, nearly 25% of the variance in academic performance was attributed to sleep. This just goes to show how important sleep is for good grades, and your overall well being.

Quickly reviewing your flashcards or reading a chapter of your textbook before you go to bed can also help consolidate all the information you’ve learnt and make it easier to remember the material the next day. 

Passive Studying:

Replacement: Even doing just a few practice questions for 10 minutes on the bus every day is better than highlighting and rereading your notes for hours at a time. This will help you retain your knowledge and overall comprehension, while helping you understand how to use it in familiar/unfamiliar situations (which is what exams test you on!) 

You do not need to study for 7 hours a day to get good grades. Try to find something effective that works for you, while still having a balanced, healthy life. Academics are important, but so are your relationships, health and hobbies.

Sources

1. Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students’ learning with effective learning techniques. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4–58. https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100612453266 
2. Shetty, M. (2024, January 10). Sleep and Academic excellence: A Deeper look | Student Blogs. Lifestyle Medicine. https://longevity.stanford.edu/lifestyle/2024/01/10/sleep-and-academic-excellence-a-deeper-look/ 
3. Newton, P. M., & Miah, M. (2017). Evidence-Based Higher Education – Is the learning styles ‘Myth’ important? Frontiers in Psychology, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00444 

How to take notes and study smarter. (2024, November 20). News Portal. https://www.murdoch.edu.au/news/articles/the-art-of-note-taking-what-s-really-most-effective

Feeling stressed? Don’t worry, the perfect solution is to listen to music! According to the University of Nevada, “Music around 60 beats per minute can cause the brain to synchronise with the beat causing alpha brain waves.” Alpha brain waves are present when we are relaxed and in a calm state. Although there are many ways to increase alpha brain waves such as meditation or exercise, according to doctors, music can also be surprisingly effective. For example, music such as jazz is a great tool for stress relief as studies prove that listening to jazz can reduce heart rates and bring people to a calm state. People find jazz music calming due to its use of syncopated rhythm, and melodic tunes. This is why many therapists recommend patients who suffer from anxiety or stress-related disorders to listen to jazz music.

We all have bad days, it is just a part of life. However, blasting some tunes in your room can help cheer you up! Despite everyone having different opinions on music that makes them happy, research shows that there are specific musical features  that tend to appear in ‘happy’ songs. For example, songs written in a major key are often perceived as happy music, because of how our brains process and interpret music. Faster music also tends to induce more positive emotions than slower music. Research suggests that most music perceived as ‘happy’ music tends to be performed between 140-160 beats per minute (bpm). This can be seen as true for Taylor Swift’s well-known song Shake It Off which is classified as a very happy song with a bpm of 160. Most importantly, you will have to listen to music you enjoy to experience benefits such as increased dopamine and reduced cortisol levels (stress). Now you know what songs to play when you are feeling miserable!

The swooshing sound of the wind, the honking from the cars, aren’t you bored of listening to the racket of noise around you? Well, listening to music will help! Although many people believe that listening to music drones your focus away, this is not true. According to a recent study, music increases your productivity by 7.4%. However, this will only happen if you choose a suitable type of music to listen to. For instance, music that is too slow may leave you feeling discouraged and drowsy, whilst listening to music too upbeat can decrease your concentration levels. The best music to listen to is a playlist of songs you enjoy, but have heard so often that you are already familiar with the beats and lyrics in the music. With this playlist, you will be able to play enjoyable background music that increases dopamine levels while being concentrated. Increased dopamine levels motivate you to achieve your goals – not to mention, this motivation can help with increasing productivity as well, which means that you can spend less time doing homework and more time doing what you love!

In conclusion, listening to music has many benefits but it is important to take note that  everyone perceives music differently and what you might think is calming might be distracting to other people. This is why you need to test out what type of music benefits you the most. Have fun experimenting!

Bibliography:

Releasing Stress Through the Power of Music | Counseling Services. (2024). Retrieved April 18, 2024, from University of Nevada, Reno website: https://www.unr.edu/counseling/virtual-relaxation-room/releasing-stress-through-the-power-of-music#:~:text=Sounds%20of%20rain%2C%20thunder%2C%20and 

News, N. (2023, April). Happy Songs: These Are the Musical Elements That Make Us Feel Good – Neuroscience News. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from Neuroscience News website: https://neurosciencenews.com/music-happiness-22910/#:~:text=Faster%20music%20tends%20to%20induce,Me%20Now%20at%20156%20BPM 

Schooley, S. (2019, February 21). Music and Its Effect on Productivity. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from Business News Daily website: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/11294-music-effect-on-productivity.html 

News, N. (2023, April). Happy Songs: These Are the Musical Elements That Make Us Feel Good – Neuroscience News. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from Neuroscience News website: https://neurosciencenews.com/music-happiness-22910/#:~:text=Faster%20music%20tends%20to%20induce,Me%20Now%20at%20156%20BPM 

Allergies 

An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system reacts to something that is seemingly harmless to others in an abnormal way, ranging from mild to severe symptoms, from sneezing to vomitting . Some common allergies include food like eggs and milk, pollen from plants, household chemicals and more. Usually, allergies are passed down through generations, so if you have allergies, it’s likely that your children will have allergies as well. 

Our immune system 

Next, we will look at our immune system. Firstly, the immune system is in charge of protecting our bodies from any dangerous microbes which can cause diseases and infections, such as viruses and bacteria. 

There are two main kinds of white blood cells: phagocytes and lymphocytes which patrol around your body through your blood vessels. Phagocytes focus on detecting these microbes and eventually engulfing them, while lymphocyte’s functions are more varied based on what kind of cell they are. Some variations include T cells, B cells and natural killer cells. T cells destroy the pathogens in your body, while B cells are mainly in charge of producing antibodies. 

Antibodies focus on helping the body to fight off the infection through firstly recognising substances or otherwise called antigens on the surface of the microbe, which has been marked as foreign.  They then mark the microbe as dangerous and for destruction, which involves a lot more different cells, proteins and chemicals. 

Lastly, we should also learn about the lymphatic system, which mainly manages the fluid levels in the body, reacts to bacteria, fights off cancer cells, absorbs fats from our diets and more. The lymphatic system is very important and crucial to the functioning of our immune system, and also helps us with the lymphocytes. 

Our immune response to allergies 

As a foreign invader is detected, the body reacts through the immune system, setting off a chemical reaction. The immune system starts to produce immunoglobulin (IgE), which is a kind of antibody. Each IgE is aimed at a specific allergen, which means that each person can be allergic to different allergens.

The IgE mentioned before binds onto basophils, a kind of white blood cell. They also bind onto mast cells, which are the largest white blood cells in the entire immune system. The basophils and mast cells release the histamines previously mentioned, which causes swelling. The tissue of the cells are irritated and damaged, causing symptoms to show common allergy symptoms, which are triggered through this chemical reaction, including the release of histamines, causing symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, and more.

The first exposure to antigens or allergens shows no symptoms, however the second exposure is what causes the reactions. Some may also have a tendency inherited from their families to produce a lot of IgE, causing an overreaction towards some allergens such as hay fever. 

What should you do if you have seasonal allergies 

As the spring season comes up, seasonal allergies also increase rapidly as the pollen count is high. There are a few steps you can take to avoid a riskier response from your immune system. Before your symptoms start to show, it might be beneficial to take your allergen medicine beforehand. Closing your doors and windows when pollen count is high is also beneficial towards avoiding huge reactions to these allergens. However, if you do unfortunately have an allergic reaction, the safest thing to do, however, would be to reach out to a doctor for a suitable treatment plan, in order to maximise your recovery from seasonal allergies. 

Conclusion:

Overall, there are a few points needed to be taken into consideration for allergies. Firstly, an allergic reaction is a response from your immune system, which can cause an antibody to be produced, causing the symptoms we see daily. As spring arrives in Hong Kong, it would be good to take extra care of your home and yourself, in order to be fully equipped for any potential allergic reactions that could occur. 

Bibliography: 

Health. (2021). Food allergy and intolerance. Retrieved March 25, 2024, from Vic.gov.au website: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/food-allergy-and-intolerance 

Health. (2019). Immune system. Retrieved March 26, 2024, from Vic.gov.au website: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/immune-system 

Fernandez, J. (2022, October 6). Overview of Allergic Reactions. Retrieved March 26, 2024, from MSD Manual Consumer Version website: https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/immune-disorders/allergic-reactions-and-other-hypersensitivity-disorders/overview-of-allergic-reactions 

Allergies and the Immune System. (2021, August 8). Retrieved March 26, 2024, from Hopkinsmedicine.org website: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/allergies-and-the-immune-system#:~:text=What%20You%20Need%20to%20Know,develops%20antigens%20against%20a%20substance. 

Symbiosis is the relationship between two organisms, some of these are positive and some negative, but above all, these relationships are what allow us to survive together on a single earth. 

Imagine you are diving into the ocean, exploring the world beneath the waves. If we see a clownfish swimming near a sea anemone, we’ve just witnessed the harmony we were looking for — mutualism: one of the four types of symbiosis. In a mutualistic relationship, both species benefit. In this case,the sea anemone provides the clownfish with protection and shelter, while the clownfish provides the anemone nutrients in the form of waste, while also scaring off predator fish with their poisonous tentacles. 

Let’s continue our journey by swinging on the vines in the wilderness of a dense overgrown jungle. Here, you find the fresh fruits and the tropical trees. But among all, you find the second type of symbiosis – commensalism. Birds like cattle egrets or oxpeckers often perch on the backs of grazing animals, such as elephants, buffaloes, or zebras. Commensalism is where one animal is benefited, while the other remains unaffected. In this case, these birds feed on the insects that infest the mammals’ fur or skin, gaining a reliable food source. Meanwhile, the mammals remain unaffected. 

Envision yourself playing football, just then a mosquito proceeds to bite you. However annoying, this interaction is known as parasitism, the third type of symbiotic relationship. Parasitism is where one organism is benefited while the other is harmed. It consists of the host, which is disadvantaged and the parasite that is the beneficiary. This can be spotted frequently in our daily life. For instance, humans getting bitten by mosquitoes. When a female mosquito bites a human, it pierces the skin and injects its saliva. The mosquito then feeds on the blood that flows into its mouth. In this case, the human is the host and the mosquito is the parasite. Although this may seem annoying in our perspective, this is still a type of harmonic relationship. The mosquito needs the blood from humans to reproduce, as they are an important part of the ecosystem, and are the diet of many animals that require insects to live. 

Before our voyage around the world is coming to an end, imagine you were running through the thick bushes of the forest, when sweat pours down your cheeks – the thick trees blocking sunlight may prevent further sweating and make you feel cooler, however this negatively affects the growth and development of smaller plants and seedlings beneath the canopy. These plants may struggle to flourish and grow because of the lack of sunlight. This is called amensalism. This is where one organism is disadvantaged, while the other stays unaffected. In this scenario, the large trees are not directly affected by the smaller plants, but the smaller plants are negatively impacted by the shade created by the larger trees. 

“How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! Here we will sit and let the sounds of music creep in our ears: soft stillness and the night becoming the touches of sweet harmony” said Lorenzo to Jessica suggesting that they should enjoy the enchanting ambiance created by the combination of moonlight, music, stillness, and harmony, from “The Merchant of Venice” written by shakespeare. Of course, harmony and symbiosis is all around us. From “The Merchant of Venice” in the 16th century, to the current earth era, the Cenozoic Era in the 21st century, it’s one of those things that eventually blend into life like an extremely monotone background music at a high school prom. But if you look at life through a magnifying glass, you’ll truly realise that symbiosis is all around us. 

Bibliography

National Geographic Society. “Symbiosis: The Art of Living Together | National Geographic Society.” Education.nationalgeographic.org, National Geographic, 31 Oct. 2022, education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/symbiosis-art-living-together/.

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Commensalism | Definition, Examples, & Facts.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 27 Dec. 2017, www.britannica.com/science/commensalism.

—. “Mutualism | Types, Examples, & Facts.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 24 Aug. 2018, www.britannica.com/science/mutualism-biology.

—. “Symbiosis | Biology.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2 July 2018, www.britannica.com/science/symbiosis.

Study.com, 2022, study.com/learn/lesson/symbiosis-types-examples.html.

This is the moral dilemma that plagues euthanasia and renders it as a controversial subject both in the medical field but also in religion and law. 

But first of all, what is euthanasia? Euthanasia (also referred to as ‘mercy killing’ and ‘assisted suicide’) is the practice of ending a patient’s life in order to relieve the long term or insufferable pain they experience. In this article, we will explore perspectives on why this procedure is not being legalised, and their reasoning behind their standpoints. 

As we may know, the execution of mercy killing typically occurs in hospitals or other specialised facilities like nursing homes – so does this mean medical professionals support euthanasia? The World Medical Association, having held consultative conferences globally on this matter came to the conclusion that it is against physician-assisted suicide, demonstrating their responsibility and respect for maintaining human life.  

What about the Hippocratic Oath? The Hippocratic Oath states the obligations and proper conduct of doctors and is highly regarded in modern medical ethics. The oath stated that “I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan.” Considering there is a substantial percentage of medical students who swear by the oath or similar types of declaration (about 98% of American medical students and 50% of British medical students swear an oath), it is safe to say that the majority of the medical field is against such practices due to the deliberate intent on ending human life.

In addition, how foolproof are euthanasia laws? According to the ‘slippery slope’ argument, if a specific action was to be legalised, then other correlated actions will be permitted as well – in simpler words, ‘down the slippery slope’. It is possible to examine this theory in a case study. For instance, in the Netherlands, euthanasia was only allowed for terminally ill who personally requested it, however it has ‘gone down the slippery slope’ by eventually permitting it for the chronically ill and even for children.

To summarise, despite the seemingly ‘good’ intent of euthanasia ending one’s suffering, there are multiple factors that work against it, like medical professionals who believe it is deliberate and unethical, and the ‘slippery slope’ theory that worries that laws revolving assisted suicide will only lead to more laws allowing such actions, making mercy killing too permissible, even leading to unethical use. 

Afterall, would you allow your loved ones to stop fighting for life if there is a chance, however miniscule – that they will recover? Or will you let go of their hand and allow them to relieve this suffering forever?

Bibliography

Hippocratic Medicine – preserving ancient values. (2024). Christian Medical Fellowship – Cmf.org.uk. https://www.cmf.org.uk/resources/publications/content/?context=article&id=424#:~:text=About%2098%25%20of%20American%20and,features%20of%20the%20Hippocratic%20Oath.

WMA – The World Medical Association-World Medical Association Reaffirms Opposition to Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide. (2014). Wma.net; WMA – The World Medical Association-World Medical Association Reaffirms Opposition to Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide. https://www.wma.net/news-post/world-medical-association-reaffirms-opposition-to-euthanasia-and-physician-assisted-suicide/

Benatar, D. (2011). A Legal Right to Die: Responding to Slippery Slope and Abuse Arguments. Current Oncology, 18(5), 206–207. https://doi.org/10.3747/co.v18i5.923

(2024). Livelaw.in. https://www.livelaw.in/h-upload/images/1600x960_euthanasia.jpg

In this digital age, smartphones have become an integral part of our lives. The number of smartphones globally is expected to reach 7.1 billion by 2024, highlighting their widespread use and influence. 

According to a study conducted by Psychology Today, 94% of participants felt troubled or bored when they didn’t have their phone with them. About 70% said they felt depressed, panicked and helpless when their phone was lost or misplaced. It is evident that many of us have become deeply intertwined with our digital lives, to the point where we sometimes imagine our phones vibrating in our pockets, even when they’re not there.  

When you got your first smartphone, you were probably really excited and did things that made you feel good. Think: calling and texting your friends, playing online games, watching funny memes on Instagram. These activities all cause dopamine to be released. 

What’s dopamine? Also known as the ‘feel good’ or ‘happy’ hormone, dopamine is a neurotransmitter that’s an important part of your brain’s reward system, giving you feelings of pleasure and motivation. It’s associated with memory, learning, mood and many other body functions. 

Our brains are designed to release dopamine when we do things we need to do to survive, like taking a bite of delicious food, after a workout, or when we have successful social interactions. This reward system motivates us to repeat them.

Each time you do something that prompts a release of dopamine, your brain starts to notice it as a pattern. Soon enough, your brain begins to associate ‘smartphone’ with dopamine. And since your brain naturally craves easy hits of dopamine, it starts to crave your phone. This is what keeps us checking our phones all the time.

Because most social media platforms are free, they rely on income from advertisers to make a profit. In other words, these apps are designed to grab your attention by taking advantage of the dopamine reward system. 

When we believe that a reward is to be given at random and that there is little cost involved in checking for it, we will likely check it frequently. If you pay attention, you may find yourself reaching for your phone every time you feel bored, purely out of habit. Programmers work very hard behind the screens to keep you doing just that.

Being addicted to smartphones may seem like a trivial problem compared to other addictions like using drugs or overconsumption of alcohol. However, researchers are finding that smartphone addiction has a more significant impact than we know. Even though these pocket-sized devices are merged into all aspects of our lives, we should not neglect the way our phones impact our health.

Some of these effects include higher depression rates, suicide risks, poor attention spans, productivity decrease, neck pain and sleep issues. These issues are particularly alarming among young adults and teenagers, who are major consumers of social media content.

However, at an appropriate amount, smartphones and social media can have positive effects, including the increased identity formation, opportunities, and access to information and entertainment.

In today’s world, smartphones and social media platforms aren’t going away anytime soon, so it’s up to us to decide how much time we want to spend on them. Doing things like disabling notifications, keeping your display in black and white, and limiting screen time can help to reduce your phone’s grab on you. So the next time you have the urge to check your phone, ask yourself, “Is this really worth my time?”.

References

1. Cleveland Clinic. (2022, March 23). Dopamine. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22581-dopamine 
2. GGTU. (n.d.). Youth, Smartphones and Social Media Use. Gambling, Gaming and Technology Use (GGTU). https://kmb.camh.ca/ggtu/knowledge-translation/youth-smartphones-and-social-media-use 
3. Haynes, T. (2018, May 1). Dopamine, smartphones & you: A battle for your time. Science in the News; Harvard University. https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2018/dopamine-smartphones-battle-time/ 
4. Taylor, I. (2024, February 4). How to finally break free from your smartphone addiction. BBC Science Focus Magazine. https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/dopamine-fasting-smartphone-addiction 
5. Team Lemonade. (n.d.). Why You Can’t Stop Looking at Your Phone. Lemonade Blog. https://www.lemonade.com/blog/psychology-behind-phone-addiction/ 
6. University Urgent Care. (2021, September 29). Why are we addicted to our phones? University Urgent Care. https://universityurgent.care/why-are-we-addicted-to-our-phones/ 

Standard cancer treatments usually revolve around the fields of chemotherapy and radiation, however, these treatments, while effective, bear side effects after application. These include Neutropenia, a condition when there are too few white blood cells in your system; Lymphedema, the swelling of tissue, Deep Vein Thrombosis, a blood clot formed in the deeper veins in your leg, nerve damage, hair loss, nausea and vomiting and more. In brief, these treatments may adversely impact a patient’s immune system.

This is where alternative treatments come in place, with micro-algae being one of many. However, it is the idea of deriving the natural anti-cancerous properties from flora and fauna that differs from other complementary methods.

Inside microalgae, there are a few types of bioactive molecules present, including carotenoids, different types of polysaccharides, vitamins, sterols, fibres, and minerals. As can be seen, microalgae have a diverse range of chemical constituents and biomass, as well as substantial potential for the first step in developing nonmalignant drugs. 

In the past, such properties of microalgae were utilised in the production of food supplements and gelling substances. However, it is in recent years that microalgae has been put under the spotlight in cancer research. One of the investigations involved studying the potential anti-carcinogenic effect of microalgal extracts, which can decrease the risk of getting cancer. It was summarized that they had an ability to induce programmed cancer cell death through caspase-dependent or independent pathways, both triggers of apoptosis, and the elimination of unwanted cells.

Multiple investigations have found that certain algae-derived compounds were able to attune several cellular mechanisms such as cellular cytotoxicity (the degree to which a substance can cause damage to a cell), downregulate invasion of tumour cells, and enhancement of cancer cell apoptosis. 

A specific example of a carotenoid (essential pigments in photosynthetic organs along with chlorophylls) found in microalgae, diatom, and brown seaweeds is fucoxanthin. This particular carotenoid, through findings from cellular and molecular investigations, was able to prevent the growth of malignant cells, stimulate cancer suppressor genes, and arrest cell cycles – all while uninterrupting tumour cells apoptosis. Blue-green microalgae have also been discovered that they bear antitumour capacity as well. Such insights of the fucoxanthin and blue-green microalgae may improve tumour therapy on humans.

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death globally. Our immune systems, being complex and diverse, require adequate treatments that are both effective and safe in the long term. Microalgae could be one of the first types of treatment that could fulfil both criterias, having gained significant attention in recent years due to the developments in cancer treatment. Despite the research being in its early stages, there is an accumulating amount of evidence and ongoing research that supports their therapeutic benefits. Nonetheless, it is astounding to see that flora and fauna have possibly provided us the antidote to one of the deadliest diseases known to humankind.

Bibliography

1. Abd, M. E., Abdelnour, S. A., Mahmoud Alagawany, Abdo, M., Sakr, M. A., Khafaga, A. F., Mahgoub, S. A., Elnesr, S. S., & Gebriel, M. G. (2019). Microalgae in modern cancer therapy: Current knowledge. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 111, 42–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2018.12.069
2. Apoptosis. (2023). Genome.gov. https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/apoptosis#:~:text=Apoptosis%20is%20the%20process%20of,a%20role%20in%20preventing%20cancer
3. Jiří Komárek, & Johansen, J. R. (2015). Filamentous Cyanobacteria. Elsevier EBooks, 135–235. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-385876-4.00004-9
4. Martínez, K. A., Lauritano, C., Romano, G., & Ianora, A. (2018). Marine Microalgae with Anti-Cancer Properties. Marine Drugs, 16(5), 165–165. https://doi.org/10.3390/md16050165
5. Saxena, A., Raj, A., & Tiwari, A. (2022). Exploring the Anti-cancer Potential of Microalgae. IntechOpen EBooks. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.104831
6. Saloni Dattani, Spooner, F., Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2023, September 22). Causes of Death. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/causes-of-death#:~:text=In%20the%20past%2C%20infectious%20diseases,common%20causes%20of%20death%20globally

1. Perplexity: 

The unpredictability of a sentence is measured by perplexity. In simplest terms, it assesses how frequently a text may confuse a reader. AI models try to reduce perplexity, striving for a text that reads smoothly and rationally. Human writing is more perplexing: it has more inventive linguistic choices, but also more errors. Language models work by predicting and adding the word that would normally follow next in a phrase. As illustrated in the table below, there are more and less plausible continuations in the statement “I couldn’t get to sleep last…”

Low perplexity is used to prove that a text is generated by AI.

2. Burstiness: 

Burstiness is a measure of diversity in phrase structure and duration, similar to perplexity but at the sentence level rather than the word level. It is minimal in a text with little variation in sentence structure and length and is high in a text with more variance. AI text is typically less “bursty” than human text. Language models prefer to produce sentences of ordinary length (say, 10-20 words) and with traditional structures because they forecast the most likely word to come next. This is why AI writing can be tedious at times.

Low burstiness implies that the text was most likely created by AI.

3. Temperature:

When working with AI-generated text, it is essential to understand the concept of temperature. The randomness of predictions is measured by temperature probability. If the temperature is low, a model will most likely produce the most accurate text. But it will be extremely dull due to the lower degree of variance.

If the temperature likelihood is high, the generated text will be more diverse – but the model will be more likely to make grammar problems. If a sampled piece of text consistently chooses the most predicted term across paragraphs, you’re almost likely dealing with artificially generated content.

How reliable are AI detectors?

AI detectors typically perform well, particularly with longer texts, but they can easily fail if the AI output is urged to be less predictable or altered after it is formed. If the criteria are met, detectors can readily misidentify human-written material as AI-generated content.

According to research into the top AI detectors, no tool can achieve 100% accuracy; the highest accuracy reported was 84% in a premium product or 68% in the best free tool. These tools provide a good indication of how likely it is that a text was generated by AI, but they should not be used as evidence on their own. Even the most confident vendors frequently state that their tools can’t be used to prove that a text is generated by AI, and colleges haven’t put much faith in them so far.