Carrying on Tradition, Advancing Knowledge

Carrying on Tradition, Advancing Knowledge

Maybe it was a good book on some fascinating phenomena. Perhaps it was a starry night or visit to a zoo. Perhaps, it was the chemistry teacher you had in high school. Often, those with an interest in science can point to some influencing factors or moments that triggered their pursuit of scientific knowledge. In the process, like a child having just read their first book, many scientists-in-training feel an inexplicable urge to share what they have gathered. But is it possible to take both courses, to teach and to “do” science? Or are they separate branches from the same tree, roads diverging at the point where research and education take separate paths?

The Role of Mutant Glucocerebrosidase and α-Synuclein Oligomerization in Neurodegeneration

The Role of Mutant Glucocerebrosidase and α-Synuclein Oligomerization in Neurodegeneration

Gaucher’s disease is a pathology associated with intracellular accumulation of glucosylceramide due to glucocerebrosidase dysfuntion. Gaucher’s disease, type I in particular,  does not usually present with neurologic components; however, researchers and physicians have recently noted an increased incidence of Parkinsonism in patients with type I Gaucher’s. This review aims to highlight the previously unknown mechanism of Gaucher-linked Parkinsonism and to shed light on the future direction of linking and treating similar pathologies

Optical Properties of Metal Nanoparticles Using DDA

Optical Properties of Metal Nanoparticles Using DDA

The optical properties of metal nanoparticles have garnered researchers’ interests, since 1800s, owing to their strong extinction efficiency in the visible spectrum. With increasing interest in basic and applied nanosciences, the use of metal nanoparticles spans various fields like data storage, therapeutic purposes, biological sensors etc. This article describes a study, using numerical simulation, of the optical properties of nanoparticles as a function of their shape and size.