educated but confused

educated but confused

by Yassine Filali, Avery Van De Water & Val Soto

Education Society & Culture

Season 2

Discussing mentorship with Don Robin and Noah Waller

Season 2 - we are interviewing people who inspire us. In today's episode, our guest of honor is... Don Robin. Avery and second guest, Noah Waller, talk with Don about our experiences with mentorship. Follow us on twitter @theEBCpod :); we appreciate the love. Thanks for listening :) As always, stay educated and seek confusion. Join our email list to get notified when new episodes drop (and merch in the near future).FACT CHECK!At some point we said that all science holds a materialist view. This is not necessarily true. There are other views such as dualism that are held, however materialism is the most common- especially among cognitive scientists. You can read more here. Randy Schroeder was the associate director and educational counselor with TRIO at The University of New Hampshire. Don states that schools with formal mentorship programs retain faculty 40-50% better than those without. While I couldn’t find this exact study, there was a study that assessed the impact of a formal mentorship program on junior faculty satisfaction and productivity. They found that mentees were 34% more likely to hold senior faculty positions compared to the control group.Did we miss anything? Contact us at educatedbutconfused@gmail.com

A conversation about data science with Teon Brooks!

Season 2 - we are interviewing people who inspire us. In today's episode, our guest of honor is... Teon Brooks! We discuss Teon’s educational journey and experience as a data scientist. Follow us on twitter @theEBCpod :); we appreciate the love. Thanks for listening :) As always, stay educated and seek confusion. Join our email list to get notified when new episodes drop (and merch in the near future). FACT CHECK! Did we solve physics? Nothing is wrong with physics to our knowledge, but it's fun to pretend we solved it! Are there less than a thousand MEG systems in existence? It's true! In 2022, there were only an estimated 200 MEG systems worldwide. https://tinyurl.com/4475m33f Are people more interested in image resolution than everything else (temporal or spatial)? Image resolution matters quite a bit, but depending on the questions investigators are attempting to answer, it may or may not be of importance to maximize image resolution. That said, degree and type of interest in resolution is wholly up to those investigators. Is twitter charging for API? It does appear that twitter will now be charging folks to take full advantage of their API. There is still free access to the API, but it is severely limited compared to the ~$100 Basic plan. https://tinyurl.com/4ck34cnh Have the number of tenure track positions gone down? Within the last several decades, tenure density has been decreasing in the US. https://tinyurl.com/359796um Did we miss anything? Contact us at educatedbutconfused@gmail.com

A conversation on free will with Justin Sipla

Join our email list to get notified when new episodes drop (and merch in the near future). In today's episode, our guest of honor is... Justin Sipla! We discuss Justin's neuroanatomy course and the concept of free will. Follow us on twitter @theEBCpod :); we appreciate the love. Thanks for listening :) As always, stay educated and seek confusion. FACT CHECK! Do we have volition over walking? Yes, we do have volition, or the ability to make conscious choices, over walking. Walking is an activity that is primarily controlled by our motor cortex and cerebellum, which are parts of the brain involved in voluntary movement. While some aspects of walking, such as maintaining balance and coordinating limb movements, are automated to some extent, we can consciously choose when and where to walk, as well as modify our walking patterns or speed. Explore more in this paper: Petersen, T H et al. “The motor cortex drives the muscles during walking in human subjects.” The Journal of physiology vol. 590,10 (2012): 2443-52. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2012.227397 Is there scientific merit to Wim Hof breathing? From the Wim Hof Website “What "The Iceman" Wim Hof is capable of was long viewed as scientifically impossible. It wasn't until the first Radboud University study in 2011 that things really kicked off. The study showed that by using his method, Wim was able to voluntarily influence his autonomic nervous system - something which until then was thought impossible. This ground-breaking finding, published in PNAS, established credibility, quite literally rewrote biology textbooks and piqued scientists' curiosity.” Read more here: https://www.wimhofmethod.com/science Free will article: Libet B, Gleason CA, Wright EW, Pearl DK. Time of conscious intention to act in relation to onset of cerebral activity (readiness-potential). The unconscious initiation of a freely voluntary act. Brain. 1983;106 (Pt 3):623-642. doi:10.1093/brain/106.3.623 Kavli Summer Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience https://sicn.cmb.ucdavis.edu/ Did we miss anything? Contact us at educatedbutconfused@gmail.com

Season 2 Trailer

Did you miss us?? We are back with a new season where we focus on talking with people who inspire us! Sign up for our mailing list! Contact us for educated thoughts or general confusions at educatedbutconfused@gmail.com & follow us on twitter @theEBCpod :)

Season 1

Lex Gómez talks dissertation and postdoc life!

In today's episode, our guest of honor is... Lex Gómez! We discuss Lex's experience finished her dissertation and starting as a postdoctoral position. Join our email list! Follow us on twitter @theEBCpod; we appreciate the love. Thanks for listening :) As always, stay educated and seek confusion. Fact check! While Pennsylvania and Iowa are close in latitude, they are not the same. Pennsylvania is located on latitude 41 and Iowa is on latitude 42. Source It seems as though men’s pant sizing, generally across brands, follows a Waist/Length measurement, where Waist is the circumference of a person’s waist in inches and Length is the inseam length in inches. So, 30/28 would be a 30 inch waist with a 28 inch inseam. While some women’s brands do follow this convention, it is more often not the same for women’s sizing. In many cases, a number is assigned to a specific waist circumference. These sizes vary by brand. Source Val is, in fact, allowed to take the whole day off following an overnight study. This applies to lab work, but that does not mean he is excused from coursework. So, careful planning is necessary. Did we miss anything? Contact us at educatedbutconfused@gmail.com

Prospectus reflection with Bill Milanick!

In today's episode, our guest of honor is... Bill Milanick! We discuss Bill's experience with his prospectus. Follow us on twitter @theEBCpod; we appreciate the love. Thanks for listening :) As always, stay educated and seek confusion. Fact check! While in space, do bones lose density? Up to 2% of bone density per month is lost when astronauts spend prolonged periods of time in space. Source Does weightlifting increase bone density? During weight training, the added weight can stress bones, thus increasing density in response. This also can reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Source Is a brandy stout aged in brandy? Imperial stouts are aged in bourbon barrels most often. However, breweries may double-age stouts in other types of barrels as well; brandy happens to be one of those. Source Is academia the 2nd longest running institution? Though human history is awfully extensive, it is true that higher education has been around for quite a long time. The Guinness World Record for oldest existing and continually operated educational institution is held by the University of Karueein in Fez, Morocco, which dates back to 859 AD. Source Did we miss anything? Contact us at educatedbutconfused@gmail.com

Taking comps with Gage Liddiard!

In today's episode, our guest of honor is... Gage Liddiard! We discuss Gage's experience taking his comprehensive exam. Follow us on twitter @theEBCpod; we appreciate the love. Thanks for listening :) As always, stay educated and seek confusion. Fact check! Does Yassine glow in the dark? Yassine does not in fact glow in the dark - trust us, we tried. Resveratrol health benefits? Resveratrol has been detected in more than 70 plant species, especially in grapes’ skin and seeds, and was found in discrete amounts in red wines and various human foods. Resveratrol possesses a very high antioxidant potential and exhibits antitumor activity. Source How do you take caffeine away from coffee and tea? Swiss Water Process, is based solely on water and carbon filtration. The coffee beans are first immersed in hot water to extract their caffeine and flavorful components. The initial beans are then discarded, and the resulting flavor-rich water (called “green coffee extract”) is passed through a carbon filter that is sized to capture only the large caffeine molecules. Source How are waffle fries made? For crinkle-cut fries, simply slice potatoes vertically with a crinkle cutter, also called a wavy chopper or serrated slicer. For waffle fries, after making one vertical slice, rotate the potato 90°, and make another vertical slice. Source Why does the bride stand on the left and the groom on the right during weddings? This tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, when grooms kept their sword-fighting right hand open for combat. Source Why are string instruments more expensive than brass instruments? They aren’t particularly. Any handmade instrument requires intensive labor, specific materials, and the time of a highly trained professional. There are certain antique violins with a legend surrounding them that go for ridiculous sums, but they’re rare, unusual, historical artifacts. Source 1, Source 2 Music while studying? Listening to music while studying can be an extremely helpful tool for some students in improving their focus. More so classical quiet music with no lyrics over high intensity lyrical music. Source 1, Source 2 Yoda speech? Anastrophe, when the words in a sentence or phrase are deliberately mixed up. This is the type of speech Yoda uses. Laconic speech, as defined by Mirriam-Webster, involves the use of minimal words in a concise manner to the point of seeming rude or mysterious. Did we miss anything? Contact us at educatedbutconfused@gmail.com

Get ready for comps with Mekhla Singhania!

In today's episode, our guest of honor is... Mekhla Singhania! We discuss Mekhla's experience preparing for her comprehensive exam. Follow us on twitter @theEBCpod; we appreciate the love. Thanks for listening :) As always, stay educated and seek confusion. Fact check! The term theory of mind was established in the 1978 paper by David Premack and Guy Woodruff. Theory of mind refers to the ability to understand and think about the mental states of other people. Approved by the FDA in 2010, botulinum toxin injections (Botox) may serve as a potential treatment for chronic migraines. Botox is one of many neuromodulating drugs and is typically thought to work by interfering with pain-related neurotransmission where nerve meets muscle in the face, head, and neck. Nanotechnology involves the study and application of nanoscale materials–controlling individual atoms is paramount–and is utilized across scientific disciplines. The term “nanotechnology” was first coined by Professor Norio Taniguchi, but modern practice manifested in 1981 after development of the scanning tunneling microscope, which allowed scientists to “see” and manipulate individual atoms. Translational research, which generally spans 4 stages (development, testing, institutionalization, and evaluation), explores how research outputs become societal practice (e.g., like when a research drug becomes available as a prescription). Clinical trials test the safety and efficacy of new drugs, diets, or medical devices for/in humans. These trials may also examine early identification of diseases, quality of life for individuals living with a life-threatening disease or chronic health problems, and the role of caregivers and support groups. Before the FDA approves a new clinical trial, researchers test safety and efficacy in animals–this is a preclinical model. According to the FDA, the pipeline for a new drug from laboratory to public use follows a five-step process: (1) Discovery and Development, which involves the start of research in the laboratory; (2) Preclinical Research, involving laboratory and animal testing to answer safety questions; (3) Clinical Research, where testing begins in humans to assess safety and efficacy; (4) FDA Review, examination begins of all data from the drug and device to make approve for use; (5) FDA Post-Market Saftey Monitoring–the FDA continues to monitor the drug/device after approval for use by the public. Macaques are highly suitable models of disease with cost effective breeding/housing and close evolutionary ties to humans. Because of these characteristics, these animals are the most common non-human primates used in biomedical research. The Department of Defense (DoD) is not a private or commercialized funding source. The DoD is funded by Congress, and therefore classified as federal funding. Did we miss anything? Contact us at educatedbutconfused@gmail.com

Starting grad school with Kayla Howerton!

Hello, and welcome to season 1. In today’s episode, our guest of honor is… Kayla Howerton! Follow us on twitter @theEBCpod; we appreciate the love. Thank you for listening :) As always, stay educated and seek confusion. -Val, Yassine, Avery. Fact Check: According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, bread and baked goods with mold should be discarded as they can be contaminated below the surface. Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, director of the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics, conducted a study providing some evidence that people may have different levels of innate understanding for interior design. Various sources confirm orange juice's health benefits. One specific finding shares that vitamin C and citrus flavanoids, all found in orange juice, can help prevent cardiovascular disease. Additional health benefits have been identified. Electrocorticography (ECoG) is the process of recording electrical activity in the brain by placing electrodes in direct contact with the surface of the brain. Whereas depth electrodes are electrodes inserted into the brain. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is defined as a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate neurons. The type of TMS used in depression treatment, though safe and tolerated, side effects include headache, scalp discomfort, tingling/spasms of facial muscles, and lightheadedness. Serious side effects are rare but include seizures, mania, and hearing loss. TMS can only reach about 3-4 cm deep. TMS is typically restricted to a depth of penetration between 1 and 1.5cm. However, focused ultrasound can penetrate beyond 15cm deep. In EEG research, there is a systemic lack of data from Black American participants due to hairstyles and hair type. There are novel techniques in development to combat this issue. A meta-analysis published in 2021 found that there are multiple challenges associated with the prediction accuracy of the GRE. Did we miss anything? Contact us at educatedbutconfused@gmail.com.

pilot

Hello, and Welcome All! Today marks the inauguration of our Podcast, educated but confused! In today's episode; we introduce the team, give our professional backgrounds, and motivations behind creating this podcast, as well as set the groundwork for the general layout of the episodes to come! Thank you for listening :) Please follow our brand new Twitter @theebcpod, we would appreciate some love! As always, stay educated and seek confusion - Val, Yassine, Avery. Fact Check! In today’s episode, Yassine mentions that we should be eating 53 different types of fruits and vegetables a week for our gut microbiome health. According to a 2020 article by Susie Burrell on goodfood.com, “...it has been shown that individuals who consume at least 30 different plant-based foods each week have more varied gut bacteria, and ultimately a healthier gut microbiome as a result.” Additionally, a 2015 review article by Hebert Tilg and Alexander Moschen reports that “...dietary factors have strong effects on the microbiota” and that “Foods might one day be used in clinical medicine to prevent and treat diseases.” Yassine also said that Starbucks funds a lot of Israel’s initiatives. In 2014, Starbucks released a statement stating that they are and remain a non-political organization, and that “Neither Starbucks nor the company’s former chairman, president and ceo Howard Schultz provide financial support to the Israeli government and/or the Israeli Army in any way.” Did we miss anything? Contact us at educatedbutconfused@gmail.com. References: Burrell, S. (2020, August 13). Why you should eat 30 different foods a week (and how to do it). Good Food. Retrieved August 31, 2022, from https://www.goodfood.com.au/good-health/why-you-should-eat-30-different-foods-a-week-and-how-to-do-it-20200813-h1pzn7#:~:text=Related%20Content&text=Specifically%2C%20it%20has%20been%20shown,gut%20microbiome%20as%20a%20result Facts about Starbucks in the Middle East. Starbucks Stories. (2014, August 4). Retrieved August 31, 2022, from https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2014/facts-about-starbucks-in-the-middle-east/ Tilg, H., & Moschen, A. R. (2015). Food, immunity, and the microbiome. Gastroenterology, 148(6), 1107-1119. Cover art credits: Laura Mantovani

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