Duluth Journal of Advanced Writing

Letter from the Editor

Meredith Reynolds — 2021-09-13

Letter from the Editor

Reviewers Acknowledgement

Meredith Reynolds — 2021-09-13

Reviewers Acknowledgement

Soil Microbial Relationships in Fungal-Bacterial Bioremediation Systems: To synergy or not to be?

Micaela Buda — 2021-09-13

To address the proliferation of soil pollutants and their profound impacts on the

microbiome of soil habitats, bioremediation technology has focused on using bacteria and fungi

which utilize natural metabolic processes as tools for the removal of recalcitrant pollutants.

Independently, fungi and bacteria have demonstrated remediation capabilities but the synergy

between them offers a possibility for accelerated removal efficacies. The influence of fungal

partners on bacterial communities is based on several variables, including specific fungal

partners, environmental conditions, and soil pollutants, making it difficult to predict explicit

microbial behaviors for entire bioremediation cases. One area of study addressing this issue

is the addition of biostimulants to an inoculated substrate to aid microbial partners in their

bioremediation efforts by providing an additional nutrient source that can reduce the occurrence

of resource competition. In this review, an evaluation of current studies exploring fungalbacterial

responses to pollutants and bioremediation strategies is used to synthesize current

insights on how this synergism may be employed in soil remediation methods. Overall, future

investigations should concentrate on the long-term impacts between the indigenous microbiome

within contaminated soils and the fungal-bacterial consortium employed to shed light on how

these pairings will behave during comprehensive applications.

Addressing the Nocebo Effect: Limiting the Potential for Negative Clinical Outcomes

Meredith Reynolds — 2021-09-13

In contrast to the familiar placebo effect, increased positive outcomes triggered by positive

expectations, the opposing and less favorable phenomenon known as the nocebo effect results

in aversive outcomes stemming from negative expectations. While currently being a rather new

and trending field of research, associated ethical conflicts have restricted the types of studies

conducted and the available knowledge concerning the topic. The ethical dilemma and lack

of complete understanding make it difficult for clinicians to develop changes that effectively

reduce the likelihood of nocebo responses affecting clinical trials, patient treatment outcomes,

side effect severity, and overall negative feelings surrounding medical settings. Regardless,

some semi-successful modifications in patient-physician communication and interactions have

been able to decrease the probability of nocebo responses occurring. Further research is needed

to obtain more knowledge about the way the nocebo effect works, to better identify susceptible

patients, and to develop more effective methods of controlling the nocebo effect.

The Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Type 2 Diabetes

Anna Mackenthun — 2021-09-13

Type 2 diabetes occurs when a body does not use insulin properly: either the body begins to

resist insulin or the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. The exact cause of type 2 diabetes is

unknown, but genetic and environmental factors appear to be key contributors to its development.

Because the prevalence of this condition is increasing, it is important to find new ways to manage it.

One such way is intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting is a cycle that requires a specific eating time

followed by a voluntary fasting time. This repeating cycle is known to provide many benefits including

weight loss, increased energy, mental focus, cardiovascular health, and reversal of diabetes. There have

been few studies on the effects of intermittent fasting on type 2 diabetes. Many of these studies were

completed on rodents, while a few focused on human subjects suffering from type 2 diabetes. All studies

described in this review have found benefits of intermittent fasting relating to type 2 diabetes, but the

mechanisms the researchers found vary. The aim of this review is to present the research established

on intermittent fasting and type 2 diabetes while acknowledging the differences in results and the need

for further study. The sections of this review will explore the effects of intermittent fasting on insulin,

the mechanisms that improve insulin sensitivity, as well as the feasibility of intermittent fasting as a

treatment strategy for type 2 diabetes.

Echoes of Laurentide

Katrina Hauer — 2021-09-13

Glaciers creak beneath my feet. Not literally, of course, not anymore for the last several thousand years, but I can feel their remaining chill hum in me. Each step I take whispers of the ice that shaped my home, shaped me. Who I am is so intertwined with where I’m from, so fused at the core of my soul, that separating them proves hopeless. Is that not one of the first questions asked at every introduction? Others may ask you to share your name and pronouns, perhaps an awkward fun fact that feels excruciatingly hard to come up with, and of course – where you are from. We must define each other by this fact far more than we realize.