Dean Karnazes: The Forever Runner

Article Summary: Dean Karnazes can run three days and three nights. He claims that at times, he has even sleep run. He has run marathons in the South Pole,  50 marathons in 50 days, and the Marathon Des Sables. Where other people reach a level where they're muscles burn and cramp, Karnazes has never felt these symptoms. In fact, he claims that at times, he feels like he could run forever. While preparing for the 50 marathons in 50 days, he was sent to a testing center in Colorado. There they tested his cardiovascular system and his lactate threshold. They found that his cardiovascular system was comparable to other ultra-runners. However, his lactate threshold was unlike any they had ever seen. While the test usually lasts only fifteen minutes, they ended his test after an hour. The article explains, "when running, you break down glucose for energy, producing lactate as a byproduct and an additional source of fuel that can be converted back into energy. However, when you exceed your lactate threshold, your body is no longer able to convert the lactate as rapidly as it is being produced, leading to a buildup of acidity in the muscles." When other people reach this level, it is away of their body telling them to stop, but Dean Karnazes never receives this signal. Therefore he is capable of running 100 miles without his muscles seizing up. While cardiovascular improvements can come from training, the lactate threshold is largely due to genetics. The article explains, " your body clears lactate from the blood via a series of chemical reactions driven by the mitochondria in your muscle cells. These reactions transform lactate back to glucose again and they are enhanced by specific enzymes. The clearance process also works more efficiently if your mitochondria have a larger capacity, increasing their ability to use lactate as a fuel.

Correlation: This relates to our class because it is his biology that causes him to be able to seemingly run forever. He has attracted fame and attention due to his ability. Therefore the article is news worthy and science centered. The article clearly illustrates that genetics play a huge role in his forever runs.

Personal Reflection: As I wrote earlier, I am an avid runner, definitely not a 100 mile runner, but a runner nonetheless. The concept of someone running over 100 miles blows my mind. I cannot imagine running so easily and for so long, that I fall asleep while doing so. I wish that I had a mitochondria that was as capable as Dean Karnazes'. The article poses a question at the end about Karnazes' brother. It asks if his brother is as athletic and has a similar endurance. Karnazes states that his brother does play volleyball but he is not a runner, so there is no way of knowing. However, I would be interested to see if his brother attained similar results on the test that Karnazes took in Colorado. Overall this article was incredibly interesting, and makes me want to do more research to see if other people around the world have this same ability due to their genetics.



http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/the-running-blog/2013/aug/30/dean-karnazes-man-run-forever

You Lazy Rat

You Lazy Rat

Article Summary:  Researchers at the University of Missouri have found new evidence that may lead to a possibility of alcoholics or drug addicts able to receive a "high" without partaking in the substances. The study was conducted by artificially injecting rats with dopamine, the chemical released during a "runner's high." Half of the rats injected were extremely active, while the other half were extremely lazy. The active rats became lazy while the lazy rats remained unchanged. This led the scientist to believe that the active rats voluntarily run mainly because of their addiction to the dopamine.

Correlation: This article is very important in understanding how exercise works, and how we might be able to cure substance additions. Several recovery programs already involve excessive amounts of exercise. However, be able to artificially inject the chemical might make it easier for the addicted to recover. It also explains why people become addicted to exercising. They may be doing it for the dopamine, rather than completely for the health. Therefore, an addiction to the chemical can lead to unhealthy exercise addictions.

Personal Reflection: This article is intriguing because I love to run and so understanding why I crave a good run occasionally is important. This is especially interesting because it could be underlying proof of an addictive personality. I claim that I love to run but it could actually just be that I love that feel good feeling I get from a successful run. This is also particularly intriguing because alcohol addictions run in my family. Evidence of a potential cure is very encouraging for the future!

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151006192048.htm

Chaser the Einstein Dog

Chaser the Einstein Dog 

Article Summary: Chaser, a border collie raised and trained by Wofford professor John Pilley, is the smartest dog in the world. He now knows over 1,000 words including 800 animals, 116 balls, and 26 frisbees that he can identify specifically. With this impressive vocabulary, Chaser has the largest vocabulary of any known animal except humans. She understands common nouns and can pick an unknown toy out of a bin based on familiar objects around it. She also understands verbs adverbs and prepositions. Pilley has now started to incorporate her vocabulary to commands with 3 grammar elements like, "take ball to frisbee." Welcoming Chaser to the family as just a pet, and a means to fill Pilley's excess post-retirement time, Pilley has used "play" as a tool to train Chaser. He explains that understanding the Border-Collie breed was important. He knew that the breed was bred for farmers to herd cattle. If a dog would not follow commands, farmers would not breed them. Therefore, he knew that the breed was bred to follow commands and therefore made Chaser a prime candidate for his study.

Correlation: This article is particularly interesting to me because I own a dog who lives here at Clemson with me. I feel like he is incredibly intelligent, but I never realized he could be capable of this level of knowledge. Also, this study is the first that gives evidence that dogs are the most intelligent animals, other than humans. Other studies relate to dolphins, chimpanzees, ravens, rats, and sometimes even cows. Yet, little research has been done to better understand the brain of a canine. With Dr. Pilley's study being the first of its kind, it has influenced many other scientist to look into the possibilities. For example, Dr. Brian Hare, of Duke University, has created a website called Dognition, which allows you to measure the intelligence of your dog. The article quotes Dr. Hare saying, "Nobody expected that of all the species out there, it would be dogs that have shown the ability to learn labels for objects like we do." This has huge implications for the Theory of Evolution and for the way we study our ancestry.

Personal Reflection: As I wrote earlier, I have a dog who lives with me. Because I read this article, I am going to spend more time each day trying to better understand his brain and capability. Obviously, he is not "Einstein of dogs," like Chaser, but I know he is capable of more than I have taught him. He can sit, shake, and lay down. I cannot wait to see what else he can learn!




http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/24/smart-dog-border-collie-learns-language-grammar/3691967/

Vegetarianism and Endometriosis

http://www.pcrm.org/health/health-topics/endometriosis

This article explains what endometriosis is and how it can be treated/prevented. It explains that 5-10% of the female population has been diagnosed with this disease making it very common. It describes endometriosis as "cells that are wondering in the wrong direction." In other words, these uterine cells, that should travel down and out of the body during menstruation, can go into the fallopian tube and end up in the abdominal cavity. They can then attach themselves to just about anything, and yet, still swell and bleed just as if they were still in the uterus. These cells can cause pain and even infertility. Some studies claim that endometriosis can be prevented with a strong immune system. However, the only way to diagnose endometriosis is laparoscopically. There is possibly a link between diets and diagnosis. Certain foods/drinks like red meat, ham, and alcohol positively correlate with diagnoses. Chemically enhanced and tainted foods also lead to higher chances of getting endometriosis. Alternatively, women consuming 14 servings of fruits and vegetables per week significantly lowered their chances of being diagnosed.  

            Since endometriosis is common in women, and both my mother and cousin have been diagnosed and treated for the disease, I found this article very informing. As mentioned earlier, I am vegetarian, partly due to my doctor recommending I try to lower my chances of getting endometriosis through endometriosis. I have never actually done the research to understand why this might be a form of treatment and prevention. I have completely cut meat out of my diet and I try to buy the majority of my produce organic. However, I have lately contemplated adding fish slowly back into my diet due to the amount of protein and dense vitamins so easily obtained through the consumption of fish. However, this article has made me weary of doing so. It explicitly describes fish as a main culprit of containing organochlorines and PCBs. I wonder, however, if reintroducing organic wild caught fish into my diet would still increase my chances of getting endometriosis.

           Nonetheless, I have seen very positive effects since becoming a vegetarian, and I hope that it will protect me from endometriosis in the future.